The
debut album from Belinda Underwood, a Portland-based
bassist-cum-vocalist, is a surprisingly excellent start, especially for
what's essentially an independent release. Underwood exudes authenticity
here, moving between upright bass and vocals (and a stretch on the
baritone ukulele for good measure). She's slinky and sultry without
diving into overblown Eartha Kitt-esque aesthetics. Her voice is
breathy, and while her phrasing seems a little slow at times, it's
generally used to draw you into the next notes. Her bass playing is
similar in its aesthetic, though with a different pitch and timbre. The
key to this album is Underwood's choices of pieces -- a half-dozen
standards that she re-creates in her own style, and a half-dozen
originals that show off her poetry and composition abilities. "World
Peace Blues" shows off her scatting abilities at the same time as her
apparent love for Marvin Gaye. "Say My Name" shows off a more melodic
instrumental side with the ukulele put beside her smoky rendition of a
love song. The starting track, "Born to Be Blue," is an old one, but she
can put the pathos into it just as well as the old Velvet Fog could.
This one might take a little effort to find, but it'll pay dividends
once you do. Adam Griberg
1 Born to Be Blue 4:44
Mel Tormé / Robert Wells
2 Uncurling 5:00
3 Trees 6:34
4 Later Baby 3:00
5 How Deep Is the Ocean? 4:04
Irving Berlin
6 World Peace Blues 4:17
7 Say My Name 4:07
8 You're Everything 4:04
Chick Corea
9 You Don't Know What Love Is 5:19
Don Raye
10 Unspoken Thought 4:38
11 Invitation 5:36
Bronislaw Kaper / Paul Francis Webster
12 There Will Never Be Another You 3:28
M. Gordon / Harry Warren
Phil Baker - Bass, Bass Instrument
Dan Balmer - Guitar
David Friesen - Bass, Bass Instrument, Guest Artist
Clay Giberson - Piano
John Gross - Sax (Tenor)
Jason Levis - Drums
Airto Moreira - Drums, Guest Artist, Percussion
Belinda Underwood - Arranger, Audio Production, Baritone Ukulele, Bass (Acoustic), Cover Art, Double Bass, Layout Design, Main Personnel, Primary Artist, Producer, Ukulele, Vocals
Chad Wagner - Piano
Martin Zarzar - Concept, Drums, Percussion
