Make Believe

John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: P.S. Classics
• ASIN: B0002WZSEO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,428 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #96 in Music > Miscellaneous > Nostalgia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Molaskey Sings and Broadway Swings, October 20, 2004

By 

Robert Ray (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Make Believe (Audio CD)

On her 3rd CD effort, Jessica Molaskey reaches back to her Broadway beginings and puts a Spin, a Shine and a Swing on such old chestnuts as "I Can't Say No", "Guys and Dolls", "Hey Look Me Over" and my persoanl favorite, "Stepsister's Lament".

And when she joins with hubby/producer/guitarist John Pizzarelli, the two go after the brilliant arangement of "Cloudburst/Not Getting Married" as if they were trying to set an Olympic record for "lyrics per minute." It cooks!

Her rendition of "All Tha Jazz" is reminiscent of the Depression Era pathos that surfaced in her 1st hit CD, "Pentimento"...only this time Molskey gets to show off a touch of that marvelous high-belt voice that has keep her employed on Broadway for years. But make no mistake - this is no "I can outsing all the other Divas"...no this is pure Hip, pure Cool and pure Jazz.

"Cradle and All" not only proves Molaskey's prowess in turning a phrase, but is to this writer the most poiginant omage to adolescent dreams and family disappointments to be penned since A Chorus Line's "At the Ballet".

"Make Beleive" hasn't been out of my CD player for a week - give it a listen - you won't be sorry!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great CD, April 25, 2005

By 

Anonymous "booksandcookies" (Charleston, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Make Believe (Audio CD)

And a terrific singer! I'm so glad to have learned about Jessica Molaskey and am enjoying all three of her CDs. She has a delightful style - a singer who "acts", or vice-versa. It's a quality that made Barbra Streisand so special and extraordinary - well, that and her fabulous voice. Jessica Molaskey can do those things and she can really swing, too and has a sweet jazzy side. Her husband, John Pizzarell and father-in-law Bucky have long been favorites,but Ms Molaskey is a new discovery for our family and we like her! Bucky's other son/John's brother is also a standout musician in the "family business" - what fun family gatherings must be in that family!
This CD, and her others, are great - you find yourself dancing, singing along,or being quiet and listening closely, just really enjoying music. By the way, I think Jessica Molaskey's version of "Goodnight My Someone" is stunning.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An actress who sings jazz well, April 7, 2005

By 

Rick Cornell "RC" (Reno, Nv USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Make Believe (Audio CD)

There are two categories: jazz singers who do Broadway tunes; and actresses who sing jazz. Examples of the former category would be Janis Siegel ("Sketches of Broadway") and Mel Torme ("Swings Shubert Alley"). Examples of the latter would be Lena Horne, and more recently, Jessica Molaskey with this album.

Frankly, I'm partial to the former category, basically because the arrangements are more interesting. (Listen to Tierney Sutton's "Show Me", for example, or Rene Marie's "Where or When", and you'll hear what I mean) But Jessica Molaskey, who for years has been a singing actress, is at the top of the latter category and creates a very fine album with "Make Believe".

Frankly, I'm stuck between a "high four" and a "low five" with this; but I wouldn't be if every cut were as good as the album's highlight, or a medley featuring Jon Hendricks' "Cloudburst." Here, John Pizzarelli does the vocalese honors of the famous jazz song, while Ms. Molaskey matches him lickety-split lick for lickety-split lick on Sondheim's "Getting Married Today." Together, they make the tune a wonderful "Do/Don't Get Me to the Church on Time" duality at warp speed. A terrific performance of a terrific arrangement.

But there's other good stuff here, too. "So Many People" and "Cradle and All" are wonderful ballads, while "Stepsister's Lament" and "You're a Builder Upper" are witty uptunes. And Ms. Molaskey shows her considerable dramatic chops with reads of Ado Annie's "I Cain't Say No" as the set-opener, and Marian the Librarian's "Goodnight My Someone" as the set-closer.

So, here's the bottom line: if you like show tunes, you should love this. If you like jazz singers, this one will grow somewhat on you. Either way, it's worth at least a listen. RC