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Cat Conner: Cat House

By Jack Bowers
November 15, 2014
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On Cat House, the follow-up to her superb debut album, Cat Tales, California-based vocalist

Cat Conner

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Cat Conner shows again that she has the astuteness and chops to leave many other contemporary jazz vocalists floundering in her wake and gasping for air. This time around, Conner has chosen a baker's dozen of what she calls her "lucky tunes," and she gives each one the sort of eloquent reading that should entice the perceptive listener to revisit them time and again.

While on ballads there's an occasional hint of

Jeri Southern

vocals
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeri Southern in Conner's sultry voice and delivery, there's no point in making comparisons, as Conner's personality and intonation are distinctly her own. She has also mastered Rule No. 1 in producing a captivating vocal album: that is, to surround the headliner with the finest musicians in the neighborhood. On Cat House they include pianist

Tom Ranier

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Tom Ranier, bassist

Chuck Berghofer

bass, acoustic
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Chuck Berghofer, drummer

Joe La Barbera

drums
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe La Barbera and (on various numbers) guitarist (and arranger)

John Chiodini

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">John Chiodini, woodwind specialist

Gene Cipriano

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Gene Cipriano, trumpeter

Ron Stout

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Stout, trombonist

Dick Nash

trombone
b.1928

" data-original-title="" title="">Dick Nash, French hornist Stephanie O'Keefe and handyman

Bob Carr

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Carr (bassoon, bass clarinet, alto flute).

The vibrant opener, Cole Porter's "Everything I Love," is deftly blended with a more spontaneous lyric, "Everything I Desire," a semi-scat riff by Chiodini on which Conner ad libs freely. The mood is more pensive on

Billy Strayhorn

piano
1915 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn's "Pretty Girl," transposed by Conner into "Handsome Man," which precedes the nebulous "Sans Souci" (lyric by

Peggy Lee

vocals
1920 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Peggy Lee) and

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane's jazz classic "Giant Steps" (lyric by

Meredith d'Ambrosio

vocals
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Meredith d'Ambrosio and Ron Hurston).

Michael Wayne Deese

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Wayne Deese' "Throw Me Away" and Jerome Kern / Dorothy Fields' "Remind Me" are seldom-heard gems given new luster by Conner who also brings out the best in

Hoagy Carmichael

piano
1899 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Hoagy Carmichael's incisive "Baltimore Oriole,"

Alan Broadbent

piano
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Alan Broadbent's rhythmic "Heart's Desire" (lyric by

Dave Frishberg

piano
1933 - 2021

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Frishberg) and D'Ambrosio's even-tempered "Wishing on the Moon." If the lyrics aren't always delovely, in Conner's able hands they are at least coherent.

After a measured introductory verse, the pace quickens on the standard "You're Driving Me Crazy" and the

Billie Holiday

vocals
1915 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Billie Holiday favorite, "What a Little Moonlight Can Do," which are sandwiched around Sammy Cahn / Jimmy van Heusen's suggestive "Come on Strong." While the finale, "People Say (Song for Rob)," is some steps removed from memorable, it is clearly sung from the heart, as Conner expresses the abiding love she has for her son, whom she unwillingly gave up for adoption before reuniting with him many years later. Quite a poignant finish to a second splendid album by the virtuosic Cat Conner.

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Track Listing

Everything I Love/Everything I Desire; Handsome Man (Pretty Girl); Sans Souci; Giant Steps; Throw Me Away; Remind Me; Baltimore Oriole; Heart��s Desire; Wishing on the Moon; You��re Driving Me Crazy; Come on Strong; What a Little Moonlight Can Do; People Say.

Personnel

Cat Conner

vocals

Cat Conner: vocals, shaker; John Chiodini: guitar; Gene Cipriano: clarinet, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, bass oboe; Tom Rainer: piano; Chuck Berghofer: bass; Joe LaBarbera: drums; Ron Stout: trumpet; Dick Nash: trombone; Stephanie O��Keef: French horn; Bob Carr: bassoon, bass clarinet, alto flute.

Album information

Title: Cat House | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Cat Tales Records

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