SOCIAL ANTHEMS, VOLUME 1

The Los Angeles vocalist Cathy Segal-Garcia brings us back to songs from the '60s and '70s here, where the strong lyrical content suits the many problems we are dealing with in today's society, and she's got Anthony Wilson, Josh Nelson, Lorca Hart, Edwin Livingston, Paul Jost and Mon David to help her on the aptly titled album.

"For What It's Worth", by Stephen Stills, starts the listen with soft piano and warm guitar as Segal-Garcia's expressive pipes enter alongside Livingston's plucked bass in the soulful opener, and "What Are We Gonna Do", the sole original tune, follows with a folk-influenced delivery that unfolds with much beauty and emotion as Segal-Garcia's diverse pipes are nothing short of impressive.

"And So It Goes" lands in the middle and recruits Jost on harmonica and vocals as spoken word enters the poetic and bare climate of the Billy Joel song, while "Down To Earth" showcases a busier, energetic version of soulful, even gospel territory that does the Peter Gabriel classic justice.

Arriving at the end, Steve Winwood's "Get Together/Can't Find My Way Home" emits much beauty in its soft, stirring delivery, and "Save The Children" exits the listen with Mon David's vocals alongside Segal-Garcia's in the dreamy, somewhat jam style Marvin Gaye interpretation.

This is Segal-Garcia's 14th album as leader, and it couldn't come at a better time, as she offers a semblance of better days to come, where her artistic approach transforms non-jazz songs in her inimitable, charming vision.