The Cole Porter Mix
by: Patricia Barber
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Sales Rank: 1699
Sales Rank: 1699
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Music : The Cole Porter Mix |
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Rating:  - * One of America's Finest Artists ... I thought 2006's "Mythologies" was one of the most creative "jazz" recordings ever, and one of the best c.d.'s of that year. When I heard that Ms. Barber was going from that Guggenheim-funded project to a c.d. of Cole Porter covers, I thought, "Huh?" But in a weird sort of way, it makes sense. Say what you will about Patricia Barber: this is an artist who pushes the envelope. And discovering how to make new and fresh an idea that has been done a thousand times before is, in its own way, a creative challenge. And Patricia Barber succeeds. Here's why: In previous recordings, I've noted that Patricia Barber is like a singing Mrs. Robinson - one who sings with a detached cool that masks a profound amount of emotion. Here, she lets the emotion out. Check out the broad romance of "Late Afternoon and You." Consider the breathless wonder of "C'est Magnifique." Or listen to the intense forboding of "Get Out of Town." Or the bitter, clenched-teeth delivery of "Miss Otis Regrets." Throughout, Ms. Barber consistently finds the right tone for each of these songs, and performs them artistically. An admiring word, as well, regarding her main and long-time instrumentalist, guitarist Michael Arnopol. As he demonstrated on "White World" on both the "Mythologies" and the "Fortnight in France" recordings, this man can be the fastest guitarist since John McLaughlin. But here, throughout he sublimates the ego and plays to the musical settings which Ms. Barber has created. It's not that he can't play dazzlingly: check out what he does on "What Is This Thing Called Love?" It's that first and foremost, he plays musically. Is Patricia Barber one of the finest singers around? I have others I prefer. Is she one of the finest pianists around? I have others I prefer (though she does some of her best work ever on "In the Still of the Night"). But is she one of the finest artists around? Indubitably, and that's what it's all about. "Mythologies" was one of my favorite recordings of 2006; and likewise, this one for 2008. RC (p.s. - my bad. The wonderful guitarist here and in the other recordings is actually Neal Alger. Michael Arnopol is Ms. Barber's wonderful and long-time bassist. RC) Rating: - * Patricia Barber Scores Again ... Another wonderful jazz r5ecording by the very t5alented Patricia Barber. I have enjoyed many of her previous releases and this is added to my top jazz recordings. Her arrangements are creative and capture the soul of the music. Rating:  - * Not impressed. ... With all the critical hype I thought this CD would be better. I listened a couple of times but didn't like the songs or the arrangements so I don't play it anymore. Rating: - * Intriguing and fascinating. ... If any more proof were needed of the timelessness of Cole Porter's sublime melodies and sophisticated lyrics, then this atmospheric new release by Patricia Barber is it. Cole Porter was famously touchy about singers embellishing his melodies or altering his lyrics in any way, so there is a slight frisson of the forbidden about the various "liberties" the singer/pianist Patricia Barber takes with some of his songs on this, an album mixing three of her own songs into a programme that contains ten of Porter's. She doesn't have the most appealing voice, but there's a seductiveness about her sultry stylings of such classics as 'C'est Magnifique', with a suitably French treatment complete with melodica, "I Concentrate on You" with its languorous beat. On "You're the Top", for instance, she gives updated lyrics mentioning the late Princess of Wales, and "I Get a Kick Out of You" is reharmonised, seriously changing its tone. It is thus paying a serious compliment to Barber to acknowledge that such changes work well in the context of an album which, while it might not please those who consider Ella Fitgerald's versions of Porter definitive, is nonetheless intriguing and absorbing for that. Her long-time associate guitarist Neal Alger makes telling contributions throughout (his playing on "Get Out of Town" in particular bringing what Barber calls dark, 'lonely-town sounds' to what is, after all, a desperate plea) and saxophonist Chris Potter is scrabblingly urgent when he's involved. But it is Barber herself, whether as composer of the three intense originals judiciously interspersed with the Porter material, or as lucid and imaginative pianist, or as intelligent and emotive vocal interpreter of songs that are perhaps often approached over-reverently because of the (understandable and deserved) respect listeners have for the Fitzgerald Songbook versions, who richly deserves the plaudits for this classy, thoughtful, fascinating album. As said before, the album also included is a trio of original songs (by Barber), which could easily be mistaken for Porter numbers. My highlights: "Easy To Love", "C'est Magnifique" and "You're The Top". Have a pleasant, intelligent listening experience. Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook, Vol. 2 Sings Cole Porter Mythologies Rating:  - * Overrated and Self-Indulgent ... Despite the inclusion of accomplished musicians, the approach to the singing is affected and disconnected. To my ears, it's all self-conscious performance and fake emotion. Why take on Porter if you're not going to deliver the lyric with real, distilled feeling? This music speaks for itself. It doesn't need any attempt at drama, no matter how laid back. Kind of a Jane Monheit-type delivery. All hype, no gut. |
In Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, devotees of the dram can peruse the latest revised edition of the 1989 work. In 336 pages brimming with maps, photos, and informed overview of factors such as geography and flavor components--even proximity to the sea--Jackson sketches the evolution of Scotch whisky, from the prebottling days, when shopkeepers like Johnnie Walker and the Chivas Brothers would create their own blends for sale, to the late-1960s and 1970s' surge of individual distilleries marketing their own bottlings. Lamentably labeling the former as a time when "orchestrations drowned out the soloists," Jackson provides some sweet sheet music of his own: 294 pages are devoted to an A-to-Z review (including full-color labels and tasting notes) of more than 800 singles from "every Scottish malt distillery that has ever witnessed its product in a bottle." It's the perfect book to take to your local liquor store next time you're trying to navigate the high shelf of Scotland's highlands, lowlands, and islands. You may laugh at Jackson's description of Auchentoshan Select's "oily" nose with "hints of citrus zest" or Aberlour 10-year-old's "mint-toffee" bouquet. But you'll be laughing out of the other side of your haggis when you actually smell them. All the notes are well researched and designed to appeal to Cardhu-carrying connoisseurs, as well as those who'd just like to know more about Bowmore. In his introduction, the author describes a whisky's finish as "a crescendo, followed by a series of echoes. When I leave the bottle, I like to be whistling the tune." Scotch drinkers will find plenty to wet that whistle in Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch. --Tony Mason
 Compact and easy, to use the MyFi offers 150 XM satellite channels. |
The MyFi comes with a densely packed carton of accessories, including everything from headphones and antennas to a remote control, belt clips, and separate docking apparatus for integrating the receiver with your home and car stereos.
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An illuminated six-line LCD is your gateway to browsing XM's programming. You can browse by station, by category, or (our favorite) by currently playing artist. Thirty channel presets simplify access to your favorites, and a handy memo button stores artist and song data for up to 20 performances you'd like to look into later (or find again on XM).
Any satellite radio system requires a fairly heavy-duty antenna. Accordingly, the MyFi comes with four: one for the home (place it in a south-facing window), one for the car (mount it on the roof or trunk), a clip-on antenna for when you're hoofing it, and a built-in antenna. Our home reception was perfect--we never experienced a single drop out. Car reception was spottier, though still excellent. You just have to get used to the fact that where analog radio gets noisier in areas with poor reception, satellite radio drops out altogether; it's either all there, crystal clear, or all absent. And that's where My XM, MyFi's recording feature, comes in handy.
 The MyFi mounts easily in most vehicles. |
My XM lets you record XM programming to MyFi's onboard memory--perfect for time shifting your listening (as with a news program or a scheduled performance on XM Live) or for tuning in when you'll be someplace lacking XM reception (in a canyon, on a subway, in a windowless cubicle, etc.). You can schedule a recording or start and stop recording at any time you wish, and new recordings pick up where you last stopped. But you can't erase anything unless you clear the memory--which means you can't whittle away songs you don't like to retain your favorites. It's also important to remember that when you've filled the unit's memory (128 MB, or 5+ hours of full bitrate XM radio), it'll record over earlier material, starting from the top. During playback, however, My XM lets you skip easily from track to track and even pick from a list of all tracks.
You can configure the MyFi's LCD to scroll stock and sports-score tickers, a great way to keep an eye on important stats. The receiver also features a built-in sleep timer (15 minutes to 1 hour) and an alarm clock (wake to a beep or to XM programming).
What's in the BoxFor car use, you have a choice of mounting options for the vehicle cradle: flush mount, vent mount, or swivel mount. The cradle houses a power jack for a DC vehicle power adapter (included), an antenna input, and an audio output for use with the provided cassette-shell audio adapter. You can use the cassette adapter or the MyFi's built-in wireless FM transmitter, which turns any FM radio into an XM radio. (Audio quality is better using the supplied cassette audio adapter, however. You may also purchase a wired FM adapter, though XM asserts that the cassette adapter sounds better than that, too.)
 The Delphi XM MyFi comes complete with all of the accessories needed to enjoy XM anywhere. |
Positioning the car antenna can be inelegant, despite its heavy-duty magnet. You can have it professionally installed or live with an exposed antenna cord, though XM recommends using "existing holes, body grommets, and other wiring channels" rather than closing a door over the cord on a daily basis. The receiver's battery pack proved good for about five hours between charges. The included earbud headphones are neither comfortable nor particularly well made; a nicer set would represent XM's strong sound quality. --Michael Mikesell
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MyFi receiver with a clip-on antenna, an integrated rechargeable battery, a complete home accessory kit (with antenna and audio cable), a complete vehicle accessory kit (with antenna), stereo earbud headphones, a remote control, a remote battery, a belt clip/stand, a protective carrying case, and quick-start guides and user's manuals in English and Spanish.
