COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
An Album Review

This Album Review Section is by our Team Nancy Member, B. Douglas Swiszcz, who owns the copyright of the text provided below.

Thank you, Doug!

Nancy LaMott's second Midder Music release, "Come Rain or Come Shine : the Songs of Johnny Mercer," is the singer's homage to the legendary songwriter. This effort reunites Nancy with most of the team from her first CD. David Friedman produces, and Nancy is backed by the fine talents of Christopher Marlowe on piano, Ken Sebesky on guitar, Glenn Drewes on trumpet (and fluglehorn), Mike Migliore on alto sax, Debbie Assail-Migliore on cello, and Bruce Samuels on bass (except for Jay Leonhart on two numbers). Only John Redsecker on drums is a new face, replacing Jim Miller who did the honors on "Beautiful Baby."

The disc begins with Nancy's beautifully evocative reading of "Moon River," Mercer's collaboration with Henry Mancini, from the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Backed only by Marlowe's gorgeous piano arrangement, Nancy's high, thin, pure notes bring goosebumps to the listener. This song is a good example of how Nancy could bring a "heart on her sleeve" approach to her songs.

"Accentuate the Positive" is the perfect vehicle for Nancy, who, as we know, was always apt to downplay the bad things in life and concentrate on what was good. Nancy plays musical tag with Migliore's alto sax in a number which begins gently enough, but which picks up steam to conclude with a sassy Nancy admonishing us not to "mess with Mr. In Between."

"That Old Black Magic" finds Nancy again backed only by Marlowe on piano. Nancy's phrasing is slow, sensual, and, well, magical. The passion she conveys by song's end is almost palpable: "a flame with such a desire..."

"On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe," from the Judy Garland film "The Harvey Girls," is a delight. Nancy is backed only by the bass (and occasional background vocal) of the legendary Jay Leonhart. This one is an aural treat!

"The Days of Wine and Roses"/"Whistling Away the Dark" is a wonderful, haunting medley. Nancy's reading of "Days" mines the nostalgic aspects of the song....but this is then followed with the dark, haunting "Whistling." Again, Marlowe's excellent piano accompaniment must be singled out.

Nancy returns to "sassy" with her jazzy rendition of "Come Rain or Come Shine," the well-known Mercer/Harold Arlen song. The soulful trumpet playing of Glenn Drewes and Nancy's flat-out finish make this song a highlight of the disc.

"Talk to Me Baby" is another jazzy number, again finding Nancy teamed with legendary bass player Jay Leonhart. One can imagine Nancy singing this song in a smoky nightclub...while perched atop a piano!

"Autumn Leaves"/"When October Goes" is, arguably, the strongest offering on the disc. Nancy, who does "wistful" better than anyone, is able to project both songs' sense of loss and despair. Debra Assail-Migliore's sensitive cello playing underscores the heartbreak of these songs, whose autumnal themes conjure the demise of love. "I must be over it now I know/It doesn't matter much how old I grow/I hate to see October go..." Chilling.

Nancy engages in some vocal interplay with members of the group Talisman in the next number, "Hit the Road to Dreamland." Serious fun!

The disc concludes with "P.S. I Love You," a musical postscript which features only Nancy and the beautiful guitar playing of Ken Sebesky. The song evokes a time when separated couples carried on their relationships through love letters.

Nancy proved with her second Midder release that her first disc was no fluke. A real keepsake for Johnny Mercer fans.

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COME RAIN OR COME SHINE An Album Review

COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
An Album Review