REBECCA MARTIN — The Growing Season (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Vocalist/guitarist Rebecca Martin is essentially a pop-folk vocalist, as indicated on this recording of introspective songs that sidles closer to a contemporary singer/songwriter style. To her credit, though, she has surrounded herself with such top-notch contemporary jazz artists as Kurt Rosenwinkel, Larry Grenadier, and Brian Blade. Martin has a fragile voice that is part Laura Nyro, part Stevie Nicks, and part Joni Mitchell. A quiet, somewhat restless edge, middling soul inflections, and an inward insular sense of oneness identify her music and lyrics. Rosenwinkel wholly contributes to the arrangements and sound sculptures, playing his typical electric and acoustic guitars but also acoustic piano, amplified Fender Rhodes piano, and even vibraphone. Grenadier and Blade are peerless partners in linear rhythms and steady-rolling waves of liquid pop and light rock beats. Martin should play up to the strengths of these musicians but succeeds best when laying back, as on the light Brazilian love song "A Million Miles," a cryptic and elusive "Make the Days Run Fast," the question-and-answer tune "Free at Last," and the prettiest piece, "The Space in a Song to Think," with a repeated four-note theme emphasizing two guitars and Rosenwinkel on the Rhodes. Her most forceful façade, "After Midnight" in rock mode, takes on the perspective of an observer; "To Prove Them Wrong" in waltz time with Rosenwinkel on acoustic piano (a treat!) is her premier cut of personal deep emotion; and Martin's solo voice with guitar during "Pieces" expresses both revelation and reconciliation. The overall range of styles is somewhat limited, but the last two songs deviate on different levels. "You're Older" speaks broadly and harshly of the aging process, while "Talking" (co-written by Jesse Harris) is equally off-putting, regretful, and more about not talking. Martin has presented songs that for some will be hit and miss, while others might find this fairly consistent on the drama meter, albeit idiosyncratic. Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1    The Space In A Song To Think    4:26
2    A Million Miles    2:56
3    Just A Boy    3:30
4    To Prove Them Wrong    3:43
5    What Feels Like Home    3:18
6    Lullaby    2:58
7    As For You, Raba    4:10
8    After Midnight    3:45
9    Make The Days Run Fast    3:00
10    Free At Last    5:19
11    Pieces    2:24
12    Talking    3:29
13    You're Older    4:29
Credits :
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass], Electric Bass – Larry Grenadier
Drums, Percussion – Brian Blade
Electric Guitar, Piano, Guitar [Nylon String Guitar], Keyboards, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Piano [Tack Piano], Vibraphone – Kurt Rosenwinkel
Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Rebecca Martin

REBECCA MARTIN – People Behave Like Ballads (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 

For Rebecca Martin, the comparisons to Norah Jones will be inevitable when critical ears listen to "Here the Same but Different" from Martin's People Behave Like Ballads. The song has the same breezy folk-pop appeal of Jones' hit "Don't Know Why" and Martin's delivery of the song is just as relaxed and carefree. But the comparison is somewhat unfair as Martin debuted her jazzy blend of folk-pop in 1999 on Thoroughfare, three years before Jones's breakthrough. She also worked with Jesse Harris (writer of "Don't Know Why") in the group Once Blue prior to his Grammy-winning work with Jones. In reality, people should be comparing Jones to Martin, but all in music is not fair. However, the folks who have already discovered Martin will be eager to spread the news that her third solo disc successfully refines her style and showcases her talent as a songwriter. People Behave Like Ballads is the appropriate title for Martin's collection as she fills the disc with unhurried songs about people dealing with relationships and their own place in the world. In the beautiful "Lead Us," relationship roles are reversed as the stronger of the two recognizes they have "got a handicap" and calls to their partner to "take the reigns," while ghosts from doomed romances begin to haunt a prospective relationship in "I'd Like to Think It's Coming." These personal explorations are often complex but the lightness in which the music is presented makes them seem simpler than they are. Martin's music leans toward folk but is shaded by jazz influences and a '70s singer/songwriter style, much like the mid-career recordings of Joni Mitchell. In fact, the influence of Mitchell can be heard within "East Andover" and "Lonesome Town" as the tracks sound like quality leftovers from Mitchell's Hejira. These two songs along with the barely up-tempo tracks "Old Familiar Song" and "I'm Not Afraid" provide the best block of music on the disc. But with all of the songs kept at a laid-back pace, at 16 tracks the disc is a little lengthy and the final songs lose identity and begin to blend into each other. Nonetheless, People Behave Like Ballads is an excellent step forward and perhaps the people who lifted Norah Jones to success will discover Rebecca Martin and give her the proper exposure she deserves. Aaron Latham 
Tracklist :
1 Lead Us 3:47
Rebecca Martin
2 Here the Same But Different 3:27
Steve Cardenas / Rebecca Martin
3 These Bones Are Yours Alone 3:31
Rebecca Martin
4 If Only 4:24
Rebecca Martin
5 I'd Like to Think It's Coming 4:59
Rebecca Martin
6 It's Only Love 3:18
Rebecca Martin
7 When the Rain Comes 3:30
Rebecca Martin
8 It Won't Be Long 2:40
Richard Julian / Rebecca Martin
9 Learning 3:26
Rebecca Martin
10 East Andover 4:19
Rebecca Martin
11 Old Familiar Song 4:18
Rebecca Martin
12 Lonesome Town 6:04
Rebecca Martin
13 I'm Not Afraid 3:02
Rebecca Martin
14 Gone Like the Season Does 3:14
Rebecca Martin
15 I'm the One 3:47
Rebecca Martin
16 Play for Me 2:51
Rebecca Martin
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Matt Penman
Drums – Darren Beckett
Electric Guitar – Ben Monder, Steve Cardenas
Piano, Piano [ Fender Rhodes], Organ [Hammond B3], Organ [Wurlitzer], Pedal Steel Guitar, Organ [Pump Organ], Mandolin, Backing Vocals – Peter Rende
Tenor Saxophone – Bill McHenry