On her first release, “A Lark”, Allie Webb moves seamlessly between classic jazz, Lady Gaga, and Jobim. She begins the album with a flowing version of “Emily” which seems inspired by Bill Evan’s version of the song. She and pianist Sang Hee Cho play off each other beautifully, and the duo sets a graceful tone for the rest of the album. Following “Emily”, Webb turns Lady Gaga’s dance hit “Paparazzi” into a sultry, Latin-influenced number. She playfully interprets the song with flair, and it is a treat to listen to. “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To”—the only swing tune of the album— features a brilliant piano solo by Cho, and Webb proves she is right at home with straight-ahead jazz. With “Skylark”, however, Webb again surprises by turning the classic ballad into a lighthearted, groovy, almost danceable song. She finishes the album with a soothing version of Jobim’s “Triste”, singing in Portuguese with Brazilian guitarist and vocalist Marcus Weakley. Webb captures the spirit of the song perfectly, and you can almost imagine yourself sitting beside the ocean, with a warm breeze blowing. “A Lark” is truly an exceptional first effort, and we can’t wait to see what she releases next.
credits
released March 25, 2014
Featuring: Sang Hee Cho, piano, Eric Good, bass, Jim Watson, drums, Marcus Weakley, vocals and guitar.
Recorded and mixed by Jim Watson at Sonic Blender Studio in Venice, CA
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