Pianist/vocalist Kiki Ebsen has made a respectable living playing alongside the likes of Al Jarreau, Boz Scaggs and Christopher Cross. She composes as well, with her material being covered by Eric Marienthal, Jessy J and Boney James. Here, she comes out of the shadows to deliver an impressive album that reflects the musical upbringing that her father, actor Buddy Ebsen (remember The Beverly Hillbillies?) gave her.
She teams up with an impressive collection of artists: John Patitucci/b, Henry Hey/key, Clint de Ganon/dr, Chuck Loeb/g , David Mann/sax-fl and strings supllied by Antoine Silverman and Sachi Patitucci create a panoply of moods. Her voice is somewhere between Astrud Gilberto sotto voce and Broadway, able to coo softly on a creatively intimate samba with Loeb on “Comes Love” or hit the climaxes just right on a luminous “Over the Rainbow.” She gets cozy with Mann’s soprano sax on ”If I Only Had a Brain”, back porch relaxed ona playful “At the Codfish Ball” and whimsical on ”Tea For Two” while showing intimacy on “Easy to Love” and depth on “Laura.” Her touch on piano is assured, relaxed and spot on as shown on “Prelude” and “Missing You.” You’re going to be surprised by this one!