Dark Moon (Universal Music Canada)
Holly Cole
Released January 2025
JAZZ.FM91 Best Jazz Albums of 2025
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https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m6FALrJTSXbFt0KU4qW-PwdscGI7AvIEw
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About:
Teaming up with her long-time live performance partners, along with additional musicians to create rich harmonies and layers, this album is a true ensemble project that highlights her signature style.
“I really wanted this album to embrace the spirit of spontaneity. At the same time a quintessential part of the sound of my music is in the arrangements. So, we did very little rehearsal in advance, and the songs were incredibly fresh for us while we were in the studio. The musicians that I play with contribute greatly to the arranging of the songs, and I wanted to hear the sound of when the light goes on for each one of us and many of the arrangements fell together as we played them. What we end up hearing on this record is the moment when we discover what we love about the song, and what its essence is for me.” – said Cole.
Holly Cole isn’t one of those artists who falls into any one category. Her smoky voice is sultry, her arrangements smart and sexy and all the while she and her musicians very uniquely reshape traditional Jazz, Pop and Country standards this time particularly from the New American Songbook writers including Marty Balin, Peggy Lee, Hal David, Burt Bacharach and Johnny Mercer.
The ensemble that Holly has brought together to help create and perform on Dark Moon includes long time live performance / recording mates, Aaron Davis (piano), George Koller (bass), Davide Direnzo (drums) and John Johnson (saxophone). Add to that the brilliance of sometime accompanist’s including guitar master and provocateur Kevin Breit and on harmonica two-time Grammy winner and original member of Bella Fleck and the Flecktones, Howard Levy and finally the wonderful three-part 1950’s Nashville style harmonies of the Good Lovelies. Together they define the absolute best in “ensemble playing”!
The first featured single is ‘No Moon At All’ is an up-tempo, sexy version of the track originally recorded by Peggy Lee that features a wonderful Howard Levy (2-time Grammy winner, friend, and original member of the Flecktones) harmonica solo.
Track Listing:
1. Steppin’ Out with My Baby (Irving Berlin) 2:40
2. Where Flamingoes Fly (Jimmy Kennedy / Mischa Spolianski) 3:47
3. Moon River (Henry Mancini / Johnny Mercer) 3:26
4. No Moon at All (David Mann / Redd Evans) 2:18
5. Message to Michael (Burt Bacharach / Hal David) 6:35
6. The Exciting Life (Earl Hagen / Hubert Spencer) 4:06
7. Dark Moon (Ned Miller) 3:23
8. Comin’ Back to Me (Marty Balin) 4:33
9. Kiss Me Quick (Doc Pomus / Mort Shuman) 3:43
10. Walk Away Renee (Michael Brown / Steve Stolow / Bob Calilli / Howie Sansone / Tony Sansone) 2:35
11. Johnny Guitar (Peggy Lee / Victor Young) 3:46
Personnel:
Holly Cole: vocals
George Koller: bass (1-10)
Kevin Breit: guitar (2, 5, 7-9, 11)
Aaron Davis: piano (1-6, 10)
Davide Direnzo: drums (1, 5, 7-9)
Michael Davidson: marimba, vibrafone (1, 9)
Howrd Levy: harmónica (4)
John Johnson: saxophone (6)
The Good Lovelies: vocals (7)
Produced by Holly Cole
Recorded and Mixed by Jeffrey Walpert
Managed by W. Tom Barry
Photography and Design by Rodney Bowes
Review:
This may come as a surprise, but Holly Cole has a deep love of country music. I’ve spent countless hours listening to music with Holly and no matter where we start, we always end up listening to country music. Holly has a deep love of all genres, but country is very close to her heart. It’s the stories within’ the songs that she craves. I’ve never known anyone to analyze a lyric and find meanings within’ the song that others may never consider. For years I’ve wanted Holly to record a country album. Dark Moon is not a country record, but it has some wonderful southern twang to it. Much of that is because of the brilliant guitar work by Kevin Breit and the three-part 1950’s southern harmonies of The Good Lovelies. Whenever Holly releases a new album I say, “THIS is her greatest work yet!” I’m saying it again. My favorite moments are “Message To Michael” and “Johnny Guitar.”
Ronnie Littlejohn (JAZZ.FM91)
