Vanisha Gould & Chris McCarthy - Life's A Gig
Vanisha Gould & Chris McCarthy - Life's A Gig
Fresh Sound Records, 2024
Ella Fitzgerald and Oscar Peterson on Ella And Oscar (Pablo, 1975) — that is the rapport shared between vocalist Vanisha Gould and pianist Chris McCarthy. So rich is the empathic sympatico between these two musicians that had they recorded a collection of Sex Pistols covers, the results could have been nothing other than excellent. Thankfully, Life’s A Gig is not that but a curated collection of standards, originals, and a surprise or two. “The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea” reveals the “old souls” in Gould and McCarthy, the two bouncing through the standard as if they were auditioning for Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler.
The two Freudian-slip a swinging “What A Little Moonlight Can Do” into the same set as “No Moon At All” creating a thematic chaos tempered only by the inspired inclusion of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” which Gould brings off with an earthy gravity that defies categorization (an effect intensified by Kayla Williams’ dark viola playing). Gould contributes her rock-solid “Fall In Love With Me In Fall” to the set. McCarthy provides an extended introduction, relaxing the listener before they experience lyrics that recall the great composers of Tin Pan Alley. Gould sings soulfully without a wasted breath or syllable. This is how the best piano-voice recitals are supposed to sound.