Customer Reviews

Pentimento

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
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From the opening track, "Oh You Beautiful Doll," to the last bars of "Sail Away," Jessica Molaskey has earned more than five stars for an electric recording of some of the most well-known jazz standards, as well as two originals ("I tried Too Hard for Too Long" and "Sail Away"). Both Molaskey and the Pizzarellis (her husband John's trio accompany her as well as Johnny Frigo, Ken Peplowski, Larry Goldings, Ray Kennedy, Tony Tedesco, and Jesse Levy) show their distinct passion for music of the Jazz Age and strong ties to their pasts. There is a re-discovering, as Molaskey puts it in her liner notes, of the cheerful songs on the recording (written at the time of the Great Depression) that shows a darker underbelly to them because of what they don't say.

There is a charm to Pentimento that I rarely see in recordings anymore, a certain je ne sais quoi that puts this album over the heads of others and earns it my highest recommendation. Jessica's beautiful voice revives an era all but gone, and John Pizzarelli's cameo appearances are a welcome addition. Don't hesitate to buy this album, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

While driving into town one Sunday afternoon this summer, I heard the most spectacular version of "Waiting for the Train to Come In" on the radio. Almost wrecked the car reaching for a pencil with which to write down the name of the singer. No paper. Jonathan said her name and I repeated it over and over and remebered it all the way through the Lincoln Tunnel. Then my memory failed. Raced uptown to the record store to get it before it was gone forever. Aisle after aisle, ignoring my favorite cabaret singers, lest I be distracted. I Finally found it - Jessica Molaskey. This album is a magnificent gift of music, one that demostrates the grace, charm and wit that Ms. Molaskey brings to these classics of the American songbook. I felt as if I were hearing many of these songs for the first time, hearing new depth, joy and meaning. I will not forget Jessica Molaskey's name again and will wait impatiently until her next gift of music reaches us.

In her long-awaited solo turn, Broadway performer and song stylist, Jessica Molaskey scrapes away decades of "Vegas-style arrangements, sloppy piano bar interpretations and even sing around the piano renditions, that first introduced us to theses Depression Age Jewels, by getting right to the "Heart"...or perhaps one should say "by getting right to the bare bones".

Brava to a singer who's voice can bounce off the back wall of any Broadway house for choosing to let the the melancholy, the hopefullness and even the ... of a bygone era shine through...augmented by nothing but what must be "the purest, the truest and most unaffected" vocal performance on any CD in years.

One can just imagine an unflappable-Flapper from the wrong side of the tracks, moving from gangster to gangster in an effort to survive. Constantly being knocked down and dissappointed - but always getting back up and heading toward another door, even if to only meet - the next gangster. YES...Miss Molaskey makes you hear all of that and more in classics like, "I"m Just Wild About Harry" and "You Made Me Love You". Miss Molaskey's inner heroine is truly a "Beautiful Dreamer".

Jessica's talent as a singer/actor allow us to hear a standard like "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" as it was intended. Not as an "Ain't Misbehavin" style rendition but a heartbreaking anthem to the times - with an ironic twist of humor.

"Sail Away", written by Molaskey and Guitar Virtuoso - Hubby, John Pizzarelli is destined to be a "blue chip" song recorded by "Everyone". They will probably be able to retire on that one!

Let's just hope they don't stop making music, both seperately, and as a team.

If you have a Grandparent who perhaps lived through the Depression, please let them hear "their" music one more time or if you have a teenager who you'd like to know a little bit more about this special time in Americana - forget the History book.
Just give them a chance to listen to "Pentimento" - it gets right to the "Heart of the Matter".

Anyone who has heard Jessica Molaskey's singing in "Songs for a New World" or the recently closed "A Man of No Importance" (CD due in April) knows she can belt with the best of them. Yet for this recording she offers a restrained, subtle take on a collection of classic tunes from the Depression (and two new songs). Those of us who are tired of American Idol-style histrionics overshadowing any semblance of melody should delight in Ms. Molaskey's interpretations of these songs. She offers spare, elegant renditions of each - every one of today's young "singers" should be forced to listen, and take notes.

"Here are the songs that my mother taught me. They are not just artifacts from long ago. These songs provide clues from one generation to the next on how to get through the most difficult times with grace, fun and hope." ~ Jessica Molaskey ~

I just added Jessica Molaskey in my list of favorite remarkable female vocalists for her outstanding album "Pentimento," which is my very first CD of hers but definitely will not be the last. I'm looking forward to more of her recordings of standards from Great American Songbook.

Listening to these beautiful recordings of songs from the "Roaring Twenties" and "Thundering Thirties" is like recapturing the sounds from the Great Depression. These eras when Irving Berlin's music was dominating the airwaves set the tone of this CD recorded so beautifully by Jessica Molaskey with superb arrangements by her talented hubby, John Pizzarelli, and the support of Larry Goldings on dazzling solo piano arrangements and Ray Kennedy for additional arrangements that are so original and spectacular. John Peplowski shows off his artistry in clarinet and ditto with Johnny Frigo on violin and Bucky Pizzarelli shares his mastery on guitar and ukulele which he played with ease and adeptness.

What really shines through on this excellent CD is Ms. Molaskey's singing with her naturally beautiful voice with touches of grace, elegance and style. Hers is one of the most remarkable and distinguishable female voices of our time. Let her take you back in time as she sings from the heart and evokes the poignancy of Irving Berlin's "When I Lost You."

"I lost the sunshine and roses
I lost the heavens of blue
I lost the beautiful rainbow
I lost the morning dew
I lost the angel who gave me summer
The whole winter, too
I lost the gladness that turned into sadness
When I lost you."

Let her move you as she interprets tuneful melodies with meaningful lyrics such as "Beautiful Dreamer," "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows" and "What'll I Do?" How can you ignore the sublime piano accompaniments by Larry Goldings on these tracks? So breathtakingly beautiful!

"Gone is the romance that was so divine
It's broken and cannot be mended
You must go your way and I must go mine
But now that our love dreams have ended...
What'll I do?"

Two of my absolute favorites are her heartfelt versions of "You Made Me Love You" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," which features another great piano player, Ray Kennedy.

Ms. Molaskey included "I Tried Too Hard For Too Long" in honor of Mary Ford and Les Paul whose music represented the essence of the Dust Bowl and the American Plains. The medley "With Plenty of Money and You"/"We're In The Money" with John Pizzarelli is also noteworthy and one of the highlights. Jerome Kern and B.G. De Sylva's "Look For The Silver Lining" is a delight and so uplifting ...

"A heart full of joy and gladness
Will always banish sadness and strife
So always look for the silver lining
And try to find the sunny side of life."

This is an album of elegance, grace and beauty. It's one of the most extraordinary recordings of all-time and a work of art.

Vocals: Exquisite
Arrangements: Exceptional
Musicianship: Excellent
Overall Rating: Ten Stars

"Jessica Molaskey was born in the underground of a later time, with ties to the past. She is a droll, understated and heartbreaking. Her singing is witty and beautiful and her album, at least to me, is a singular work of art." ~ Jonathan Schwartz, National Public Radio ~

With my heartfelt recommendation.

Pentimento means "in art, the reappearance in an oil painting of original elements of drawing or painting that the artist tried to obliterate by overpainting." Jessica Molaskey has attempted to find the underlying layers in the songs of the depression, and has produced one remarkable vocal album. Many of the songs she sings, such as We're in the Money, exist today as novelty songs. Ms. Molaskey, however, finds new meaning in these songs, mining the underlying sadness that reflects the times they were written in. Listening to her rendition these mostly familiar tunes yields one revelation after another.

The beauty of this record is also aided by the oustanding band, which includes Ms. Molaskey's husband and father in law, John and Bucky Pizzarelli, and violinist Johnny Frigo. There are also two original numbers written by Ms. Molaskey and her husband in the style of the period. One, the closing number Sail Away, is one of the best new songs I've heard in a while.

Just a gorgeous album that gets better with each listening.

I was driving into town one Sunday afternoon and heard the most spectacular version of "Waiting for the Train to Come In" on the radio. I almost wrecked the car trying to reach for a pencil with which to write down the name of the singer. I found it - but no paper. So, I swore I would remember the singer's name when Jonathan announced it, and I did - until I got through the Lincoln Tunnel. Raced uptown to the record store so I could pick it up before my memory failed completely. Up one aisle and down the next, all the while ignoring all my favorite cabaret singers, lest I be distracted. Jennifer, Jessie, Jeanette, - last name was by now long gone. Finally, I found it and fell in love with the entire album. There is grace, charm and wit that transforms these familiar songs into music with new meaning and depth. I will never again forget this fine singer's name, Jessica Molaskey, and will wait impatiently until her next gift of music appears.

I just stumbled over this artist and have to know, "Where has she been hiding?!" I LOVE this album and Jessica Molaskey. This is my favorite album of hers. She is just so melodic and soothing! I listen to this album over and over!

i had the opportunity to hear ms. molaskey in sarasota last year and it was a real treat! this record is a welcome addition to my collection. its so nice to hear these songs presented in such a wonderful light. thanks for a great cd!

anyone who says bucky pizzarelli, johnny frigo and ken peplowski's backing on a cd is "ok" is obviously in the dark and did you hear Larry Goldings playing the piano on Beautiful Dreamer and I'm Always Chasing Rainbows? its not OK. its remarkable.
you will never hear accompanying like this on other records because these guys are the champions of the style. as for ms. molaskey's singing, it is fresh, simple and guess what, she sings the melody! who knew there could such an approach? she takes wonderfully simple and to the point songs and breathes new life into them. this record sets the example for how to do it right on all fronts; from the singing to the playing. buy it and enjoy it.