MUSIC REVIEW BY Butch Berman, Berman Music Review
I discovered Mimi Fox backing Don Lanphere on his lovely "Like a Bird" CD, and found her guitar prowess enchanting. Her sure-fire technique covers the gamut of all styles - she could play with the Paul Shafer Band on "David Letterman" one night, and dual it out with Jim Hall the next.
Greta Matassa's vocal style complements Miss Fox's phrasing like they were born to play together, as she wails, howls, growls and soothes, a very gifted, assured performer. Together, simply shimmering, trading riffs seamlessly yet very improv, and having the time of their lives.
Bake's sounds like a great room to hear jazz, and their rhythm section accompanies them admirably. Bassist Clipper Anderson and the sparse, but deft piano stylings of Randy Halbertstad stood out. The drums/percussion team of Mark Ivester and Larry Barilleau rather understatedly held their own, but it's the two remarkable women who rivet your attention from the first track to the last.
No throwaways here, yet "Alone Together/Yesterdays" and "West Coast Blues" stood out for me. Their rendition of "Centerpiece" may be my favorite recorded version of this Harry "Sweets" Edison and Jon Hendricks' classic. You also get two bonus tracks, including a wonderful 12-minute version of "Green Dolphin Street." They were cookin' at Bake's that night.
Greta Matassa's vocal style complements Miss Fox's phrasing like they were born to play together, as she wails, howls, growls and soothes, a very gifted, assured performer. Together, simply shimmering, trading riffs seamlessly yet very improv, and having the time of their lives.
Bake's sounds like a great room to hear jazz, and their rhythm section accompanies them admirably. Bassist Clipper Anderson and the sparse, but deft piano stylings of Randy Halbertstad stood out. The drums/percussion team of Mark Ivester and Larry Barilleau rather understatedly held their own, but it's the two remarkable women who rivet your attention from the first track to the last.
No throwaways here, yet "Alone Together/Yesterdays" and "West Coast Blues" stood out for me. Their rendition of "Centerpiece" may be my favorite recorded version of this Harry "Sweets" Edison and Jon Hendricks' classic. You also get two bonus tracks, including a wonderful 12-minute version of "Green Dolphin Street." They were cookin' at Bake's that night.