Album Notes

Like softened leather gloves or a fish in water, there is a natural and comfortable familiarity between jazz standards, show tunes, swinging big bands and Robin Lee Berry.

Raised amidst a broad collection of musical styles, her parents being huge fans of all forms of music, jazz, show tunes and opera as well as contemporary music, new folk, gospel and emerging rock and roll so that their house was constantly full of the wonderful sounds of sultry singers like Ella and Billie and Sarah and tasty muted trumpets, sensual and powerful saxophones, guitars, pianos, acoustic bass, brushes and snares.

So it is not at all unusual that Robin has been singing, writing and performing jazz standards throughout her career.

This young woman is difficult to place in a pigeonhole. Although presenting a number of jazz standards, Robin Lee Berry injects her unique personal interpretation. The instrumentation is as unusual as her arrangements, including at times, mandolin and accordion. Robin is an accomplished vocalist and acoustic guitarist. Her solo on the title tune is quietly beautiful. In contrast, she kicks Billy Mayhew’s “It’s a Sin To Tell a Lie” along at a frightening pace after a brief intro in 3/4 time.

As on any album, certain performances stand out for their own reasons. Robin Lee Berry’s own composition “Something Sometime” absolutely shines in terms of pure beauty and originality. I’ll take a moment to ask Robin not to put the pen away. Her unique version of “You Took Advantage Of Me” is performed vocally, accompanied only by her own acoustic guitar and the tune takes on a special loveliness in her hands. “The Lady Is a Tramp” is, in contrast, a free for all with some witty lyrics, kooky drum breaks and hot violin.

Musicians: Robin Lee Berry (vocals, guitar); Pete Asch (flute, sax); Graham Fineout (drums, percussion); Leo Dombecki (sax); Glenn Wolff (bass); Don Julin (accordion, guitar, mandolin); Jack Sharry (fiddle); Ron Tschudy (harmonica); Roger Tarczon (drums).

Nice music! ~ it's a pleaser.