Album Notes

Martha Bassett is a classically trained singer who first caught the eye of fans with her splendid readings of jazz, classical vocals, sacred music, high-lonesome laments – singing in a remarkable mix of styles with a not-quite-to-be-believed crystalline tone blessed with a remarkable range. She’s worked with Tony Bennett, Lyle Lovett, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, the Avett Brothers, and proto pop-punk hero Chuck Prophet. But Ms. Bassett would have won the spelling bee in high school if she’d been given the word sultry to piece together. With her fourth disc, The Goodbye Party, Martha explores longing, anger, loss and love. The songs are heartbroken and wistfully triumphant. If the hurricane season is as long as predicted in 2011, we’ll hit the 13th letter of the alphabet for named storms… M. Bring it on, Hurricane Martha.