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Mary Jenson: Beyond

By C. Michael Bailey
May 4, 2012
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Track review of "Temptation"

Vocalist Mary Jenson follows her well-received 2009 recording Close Your Eyes (Self Produced) with an homage to the dream state with Beyond. Coming from a large military family that never stayed put for long, Jenson developed a gypsy's soul and a musical taste for the world rhythmic and cosmopolitan. Her song selection is novel, including compositions by

The Beatles

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">The Beatles ("Come Together"),

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder ("Too High") and

Joni Mitchell

vocals
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Joni Mitchell ("Moon at the Window").

But it is the opener,

Tom Waits

piano and vocals
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Waits' "Temptation," that really captures Jenson's world music-jazz view. Pianist

Frank Martin

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Martin sets up swirling smoke over the poly-rhythms of drummer

Will Kennedy

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Will Kennedy and uber-percussionist

Alex Acuña

percussion
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Alex Acu?a. The arrangement is light, with moments of inventive melodic grounding firmly in in the warm climes of the Caribbean rim. Jenson's pliable voice shares these characteristics of the arrangement. She transforms this Waits ballad (sung to great humid effect by Cote de Pablo in the opening episode of NCIS, Season 6). Jenson takes away some of the humidity and adds complex undulations, giving the piece a more urgent and visceral punch.

Learn more about our star rating system

Personnel

Mary Jenson: vocals; Frank Martin: keyboards; Mads Tolling: violin; Jose Neto: guitar; Ralphe Armstrong: bass; Will Kennedy: drums; Alex Acuna: percussion.

Album information

Title: Beyond | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Self Produced

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