In the Moment

Susan Abod | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 30, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 19, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• ASIN: B000063NQV
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,633,890 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

John Bucchino 2001 MAC award winner for CD

Susan Abod's strong, clear, versatile voice and well-crafted, heartfelt songs makes "In the Moment" a joy to discover... and re-discover.

Product Description

Susan Abod’s incredible voice is sassy and brassy one minute, supple and slinky the next and she can cover a multi-octave span with seemingly effortless ease. Organized into three sections, this 16-song collection is mainly about—what else?—love. Love of life in the moment, love of music, love of the god within and without, and of course, good old down and dirty, high and flighty, romantic love. "I Love to Sing," a 1985 original, is not just a chance to show off Susan's mastery of various musical genres, but a testament of reclaimed love for the music itself. She showcases her fondness for crooning, singin' the blues, breathy Marilyn Monroe riffs, and all sorts of jazz--swing, vamping, and scatting. This is one of my favorite cuts; it’s not only a lesson in musical styles but also a fun ride.

Crystal clear arrangements showcase "Someone In Love" in Part II entitled "Lust and Love and Other Baffling Occurences." "Process," a tongue-in-cheek song about all those therapeutic self-help cliches, features a call-and-response Greek chorus of her own overdubbed voice. "It Feels like Home" by John Bucchino is a must-play for two people in love (or hoping to be), snuggling under a winter quilt.

Of all the original songs, old and new, "Soliloquy" in Part III "From Inside Out" stands out in depth and range. We hear the internal dialogue of a woman visiting an AID-stricken friend in the hospital. Shock, confusion ("What do I say"?), attempts at small talk, and a final epiphany of her love for her friend, are revealed as much by the tone of her voice as by the lyrics. Originally written as part of the play "Alive with AIDS," its artistry is reminiscent of Sondheim.

There’s a meditative cover of "Up On The Roof" that guarantees repeated replays. Many of the newer, original songs in this section are soothing and comforting, with titles like "Thank You" and "Say a Prayer." (There’s more than one type of "spiritual.") Instrumentals like the breathy "Meditation" or "Lullaby," with its sweet penny whistle harmonies, are not only good medicine for painful moments, but beautiful tunes in their own right.

I predict that this CD will open up a whole new chapter for her.

Excerpted from January 2002 review in Sojourner Marcia is a former music editor of Sojourner who once wrote that everyone should check out that great new street singer, Tracy Chapman.

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