| | Barbara Montgomery Little Sunflower CD Barbara Montgomery Discography of CDs
Barbara Montgomery's strongest album came in 2000, when the Philadelphia-based jazz singer recorded her ambitious Chick Corea tribute, Dakini Land. As a rule, her work has been decent, but Dakini Land (Montgomery's third album) was especially memorable -- it was interesting to hear a vocalist offering her perspectives on Corea's music. Although Dakini Land was a tough act to follow, Montgomery's fourth album, Little Sunflower, is a respectable follow-up. Much of this 2002 release is moody, if not downright dark -- especially the haunting "An Illusion" and Montgomery's interpretations of Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower" and Duke Pearson's "Idle Moments" (both of which she wrote lyrics for). And when one reads the liner notes, it isn't hard to understand why Little Sunflower has as many dark moments as it does. Montgomery worked on this album when some tragic events were on her mind; one was the senseless death of a friend, and also there were the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. (Montgomery lives in the Philly suburbs -- only about 90 miles from where the World Trade Center's twin towers once stood.) But even though Little Sunflower has a lot of dark lyrics, it isn't a totally pessimistic album. "E-Mail Blues," for example, is typical of the blues (and a lot of country music, for that matter) in that it manages to find humor in life's challenges. And her version of Corea's "Armando's Rhumba" brings some optimism and hope to the CD. Throughout Little Sunflower, Montgomery reminds listeners that a jazz singer needn't have the biggest chops in the world to provide a meaningful album. Montgomery doesn't have a huge voice, but she is an expressive, soulful artist who, despite her limitations, gets her points across. Although Dakini Land remains her most essential release, Little Sunflower is an obviously heartfelt addition to the singer's catalog. ~ Alex Henderson
"Working in tandem with pianist/co-arranger Barry Sames, Barbara Montgomery has produced another stand- out CD in "Little Sunflower"-a distinguished follow-up of her previous recording "Dakini Land" (a tribute to Chick Corea which drew strong attention). A daring colorist, Ms. Montgomery possesses deep confidence and sensitivity achieving pointillistic thrusts in the interpretation of her song list. She has the wherewithal to make it easy for the listener to be entrapped without truly realizing it has happened. With her impassioned voice of enchantment, the songs exude flower freshness and invite more visits. Bolstered with abilities as a songwriter and lyricist, her personal song skills and talents are of an uncommon ring. From the opener, "An Illusion", forward to the last cut "Vox Barbara". The CD is a minefield of silken vocal trials accompanied by a color pool of musicians. John Swana's Milesian trumpet comments are just perfectly fitted to Montgomery's vocal and the aura created- impressive! Another cluster of magical moments can be tapped via Duke Pearson's "Idle Moments" as Montgomery sings her own lyrics that stimulate imageries in concert with her range of dynamics. Craig Ebner's tasty guitar interjections reveal alertness, and bassist Lee Smith is given liberal space for his solo statement...nice! It seems Montgomery has broken out of the compress of her local venue environments. The periods of nurture have lifted Barbara Montgomery to full efflorescence as an upper-tier jazz singer."--IAJE Jazz Perspectives
Recording information: The Music Centre, Exton, PA.
Arrangers: Barbara Montgomery; Barry Sames.
Personnel: Craig Ebner (guitar); Steve Giordano (acoustic guitar); Christopher Farr (tenor saxophone); John Swana (trumpet, flugelhorn); Barry Sames (piano); Lee Smith (acoustic bass); Chico Huff (electric bass); Marlon Simon (drums, percussion); Greg McDonald, Dave "Skavido" Brown , Wilby Fletcher (drums); Abdou M'Boup (percussion).
Liner Note Author: Neville Potter.
Barbara Montgomery Little Sunflower Songs | 1. | Illusion, An |
| 2. | E-Mail Blues |
| 3. | As the Sun (Instrumentally Known as Little Sunflower) |
| 4. | Idle Moments |
| 5. | Armando's Rhumba |
| 6. | You're Always in My Space |
| 7. | When We First Met |
| 8. | Web of Glass |
| 9. | Vox Barbara |
|
Little Sunflower Review
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