In a message dated 11/26/2002 11:37:19 PM Eastern Standard Time, Chihuahua50 writes:
Maybe I'll get it out and listen to it every now and again, but I > really can't imagine why I would do that. I don't think there is a single > song on Travelogue that is better than the original versions. The Travelogue > versions aren't even interestingly different. Frank, I feel your pain...and here's the antidote - Rachel Z Trio, "Moon At The Window". Get it now, you can thank me later! ;~) I was driving my son to school yesterday, and playing this one in the car. My son commented (I quote) "Golly day, that lady can PLAY the piano", and he further commented (during Free Man In Paris which is truly amazing) that even though it was an instrumental you could almost hear the lyrics due to her expressive playing. (I'm sure he was just buttering me up because Christmas approaches, but it doesn't make it any less true). Travelogue is a CD I'll play for background music (If I can't find Norah Jones that is)...it certainly doesn't transport me the way her other work (including TTT) does, making me listen, feel, and analyze. I WILL add that I have no problem with her voice. It's the same fragile voice she displays on Brian Blades' cd, singing a haunting track called 'Steadfast'. Loved it. It's Mendoza's arrangements that I find lacking and dull, dull, dull, and there's nothing in Joni's vocals or the musicians' energy to perk things up. I don't hate it, it's just frustrating for me to hear so much potential and so little realized from an artist whom I put above all others. > Travelogue also reminds me of the times in the late 60s and 70s when older > singers would try to perform some of the "hip" songs of the time. > Oh, I know this too well! Tracking down all the cheesy BSN's done by The Ray Charles Singers, The Kings Road Singers, Jim Nabors (Jimmy you are totally forgiven!), etc. has made my brain squishy! Which is not to dismiss BSN covers! Just this morning I was listening to Dianne Reeves' studio version, and it is very powerful & moving. Made me misty-eyed and made reading Dear Abby all that much more of a challenge. I too hope she bounces back minus the orchestra, and as far as I'm concerned she can lose Shorter as well. His contributions here are mostly the same frilly cliches he's done ever since CMIARS. Klein can stay...he's a great bassist and a talented producer as he's proven on Joni's "Trouble Man" from Kyle Eastwood's CD. But then again, he may be more successful working independently from Joni as opposed to working with her. Bob NP: The Chieftains, "Santiago De Cuba"
