Ladies with a message…
Leslie Beukelman sings with rich interpretive voice as well as playing a bit of trumpet with a team of Rob Clearfield/p-o-mel, Patrick Mulcahy/b and Jon Deitemyer on a collection of artsy originals and standards. Her own “Dear Alice” has her in a poetic mood with Clearfield’s piano, while “Wasting Time” is a troubadour’d affair. She sings as if she’s speaking out a story on to the steady pulse of “I’m Gonna Laugh You Out of My Life” and is nifty on the double timed “Secret Love” and swinging to full effect on “September In The Rain”. Rich colors on the palate.
Lisa Lambe joins together with a pastel’d team of Jake Curran/g, Dave Hingerty/dr, Anna Houston/cel-mand, Karl Odium/b-key, Ruth O’Mahony-Brady/key and Steve Wickham/vi on casual folk themes that are rich in messages and rural soundscapes. The sky is dark on the harrowing “Hunter’s Moon” while Lambe’s tone sparkles on “North Star Rise”. Fragile emotions are palpable during “Someone Like You” and she snarls over the trudging pace of “Burning Love”. Nashville skylines are visible on “Lighthouse”, while the track mixes natural sounds of weather and surroundings to make you want to pull on your sweater. Well woven yarns.