Customer Reviews

Between The Lines

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is top notch jazz/pop. Something like Billie Holiday meets Steely Dan...... but not exactly. A silky smooth voice is the first thing you notice. Then, still early in the first song, you realize the incredible talent of all the musicians. Tight, well-produced, very pro. I kept thinking I was listening to someone who had already made it!Above and beyond the performance is the songs. This is expert songwriting, with extraordinary natural gifts underneath the crafting. They move. They breathe. Every step perfectly choreographed. As a reviewer of many indie artists, one thing I know is that often good production tried to camouflage mediocre songwriting. Not here. The lyrics speak to an intellectual mind, the music swings up and back in all the right places, and the bluesy touches are perfectly fitting.Recorded over a 10 year period, Between The Lines, traveled with Harris from New York to Chicago to LA and back again. In between her other musical endeavors, at that. She has worked with notable jazz artists, composed numerous television scores, produced music for commercials, you name it.Harris, who also plays inspiring piano on the CD, has done everything right. This artist deserves not only a listen, but a lot of success. Really. Go to her site and listen to a soundbyte. Amazing.The only mildly disappointing feature of this disc is its packaging. I was surprised when I listened, as the cover does not lead me to expect the great music within.

You don't need to read "Between The Lines" to see that Marilyn Harris sings from her heart, an all too rare quality these days. Her deliveries are smooth and in the pocket - on every cut. I've been a great fan of Ms. Harris for a long time and she just keeps on getting better.

Marilyn Harris covers it all in her CD "BETWEEN THE LINES". Her songs have such variety that there's something for everyone who has a taste for good music. People have compared her with such talents as Carole King and Carly Simon, but Ms. Harris stands glowingly on her own. With melodies that build and progress and lyrics that actually "say something", this listener wants more! How about it, Marilyn - when's your next collection of gems?

What a fantastic voice, what marvelous arrangements, and truly creative compositions! I've been a fan for years and it's wonderful to be able to take Marilyn home and listen to her over and over again. And I just bet the best is yet to come.

What a discovery is Marilyn Harris. Fantastic voice, superb lyrics, and most of all, a sense of melody, the kind you can't help sing all day. My only question is -- why aren't we listening to her on mainstream radio? Are they clueless or what?

Teasing lyrics, interesting musical phrases, I found myself singing bits of these songs for days after the first hearing. As I've listened again and again, the melodies and harmonies haunt me still. Really nice, I feel as if I've found a treasure all my own. Give it a listen and you'll feel the same. Then, we will be able to say we heard her first!

Marilyn Harris is one of the most interesting singer songwriters in America today. Her compositions aren't your normal and often boring chord progressions heard over and over again in contemporary popular and jazz recordings, but complex yet soothing harmonies that will touch your soul as deeply as any artist today. This music is timeless and skillful, with melodies you'll carry around joyfully in your head. The production quality is also superb.

Described in the past as the reigning Diva of Jazz, Marilyn Harris' music has been compared to Steely Dan and Michael Franks and her voice to Carole King and Billie Holiday. In the musical mix of artists today, it may be more appropriate to describe her eclectic and intricate sound and velvety voice as a mix of singing legend Carly Simon and Basia.

With songs such as the CD opener "Only You" and the rich "Keeping an Open Heart," Harris shows she has true staying power and talent. Talent that has led a number of diverse artists, including Jim Brickman, Bette Midler, Lola Falana, as well as jazz greats Anne Marie Moss, Jackie Paris, Judi Silvano and Diane Hubka, to perform her songs and/or arrangements.

Recorded over a ten-year period but with a sound that's timeless, Between The Lines is a sensuous yet lively album containing a wide range of songs. From the joy-filled "When I See Your Face" to the melancholy "Coney Island" (a song with imagery and sounds that make the listener feel they are actually there), Harris has a talent for hitting the highs and lows of the human condition.

Other standout tracks include "Get It Up," an exquisite, almost breezy song, and the rapt "What I See In You" proving Harris a premier singer, songwriter and arranger.

Joined by a variety of well-known and respected musicians such as guitarist George Wadenius (Blood, Sweat & Tears), bassist Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group), saxophonist Steve Eisen (Styx), and Sinatra band members Mike Smith and Ron Kolber, Between the Lines is a must have for the modern music connoisseur.

Marilyn Harris is a voice to be reckoned with. Her compositions are unique and bridge the gap between jazz and pop. This CD is forever, and you will come back to her songs again and again, and be glad you did.