Casual Listening 3-14-08

Casual Listening

a review of cool new music

by Jeff Pinzino

March 14, 2008

* Dalia Faitelson– Pilpel (world)

A hybrid of Israeli traditional and French cabaret signing, Faitelson casts a thick and sultry spell. Frame drum, accordion, and guitar provide the backdrop for her mournfully beautiful voice.

* Bisc1 – When Electric Night Falls (rap)

A seamless integration of landscape, mindscape, and soundscape. The landscape: New York City, through the eyes of a graffiti writer. The mindscape: an interior monologue that swings between self-expression and self-doubt. The soundscape: like standing underneath power lines – electric pulses fuzzed around the edges.

*Marian McPartland – Twilight World (jazz)

McPartland exudes confidence on this piano tour de force. Bass and drums add texture, but the focus here is McPartland’s keyboard improvisations, ranging from nostalgic to adventurous. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what she can do when she doesn’t have to share the spotlight with a radio guest.

Kaki King – Dreaming of Revenge (rock)

Ethereal melancholy, supported by exquisite guitar playing. A mix of sung and instrumental tracks, the sonic emphasis here is more on the “dreaming” than the

“revenge” part.

Jason Kao Huang– Stories From Within (jazz)

It’s hard to find four words more likely to condemn an artist to obscurity than these: violin avant jazz fusion. In Huang’s case however, it’s undeserved. Balanced and compelling, his work is edgy without being pretentious. Worth a listen.

In the blog (later) this week: Mwata Bowden at the Velvet Lounge.

* highly recommended

! highest recommendation

Check out the blog at http://casuallistening.blogspot.com . To subscribe or unsubscribe, or just to say hi, send an e-mail to jeffpinzino@gmail.com.