Chris Pattishall, Zodiac **** (4 star rating)

Stop shilly-shallying and head straight to Zodiac from pianist Chris Pattishall, who makes his debut so auspiciously with this Mary Lou Williams-themed release based on The Zodiac Suite from the mid-1940s. Certainly absorbing and inspiring …

Published: 26 Feb 2021. Updated: 3 years.

Stop shilly-shallying and head straight to Zodiac from pianist Chris Pattishall, who makes his debut so auspiciously with this Mary Lou Williams-themed release based on The Zodiac Suite from the mid-1940s. Certainly absorbing and inspiring Pattishall is with trumpeter Riley Mulherkar, saxophonist Ruben Fox, bassist Marty Jaffe, drummer Jamison Ross and programming wiz Rafiq Bhatia who all deliver mightily. An album that swerves away from being too much of a period piece and finds its own wonderful sense of poise and neat elegance. Next? Go listen to Mary Lou.

Available via Bandcamp. Photo: chrispattishall.com

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Golden globe songs: pick one

Can Celeste win a Golden Globe next week for 'Hear My Voice' an authentic sounding song that the singer co-wrote with Daniel Pemberton who scored the soundtrack for Aaron Sorkin's very watchable courtroom drama The Trial of the Chicago 7? By the …

Published: 25 Feb 2021. Updated: 3 years.

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Can Celeste win a Golden Globe next week for 'Hear My Voice' an authentic sounding song that the singer co-wrote with Daniel Pemberton who scored the soundtrack for Aaron Sorkin's very watchable courtroom drama The Trial of the Chicago 7? By the way Mark Rylance as William Kunstler acts everyone into a cocked hat in the film.

It would be quite an achievement if Celeste wins on the night. She certainly has a fine jazz voice more than even soul. The song is lush and strings-laden so there is no jazz connotation beyond her voice and while it is not a stop the traffic dead in its tracks song it is still very appealing.

Other songs in a very strong field up for best song are: the retro soul jewel 'Fight for You'; tearjerker '(Seen) Lo Si' (one for the Celine Dion fans out there); the gorgeous 'Speak Now' effectively accompanied by crisp guitar; and then there's the super-vintage choice 'Tigress & Tweed' even if not at all Lady Day-like.

Guessing game: My hunch is the Leslie Odom has the best vocal of all and the song paints on a big canvas. The deliciously styled 'Tigress and Tweed' may well pick up the nod, more a vintage song with a neat contemporary twist and accessible beatz. Good luck Celeste!