At least it hasn’t been as long between Dreamland and Careless Love as Half The Perfect World and this lastest album, Bare Bones.

As the title suggests, this is a trimmed down affair in comparison to some earlier works with Peyroux’ voice and guitar being complemented with a smaller band set up including multi-instrumentalist producer, Larry Klein. Twenty plus years ago this guy was producing Joni Mitchell albums so he knows his stuff alright.

Born Athens, Georgia and raised in New York City and Paris, her vocal style is often compared to jazz legend Billie Holiday. But like Nora Jones, Peyroux’ style has veered away from jazz to more of a MOR, pop, folk ‘n’ blues. In fact the laid back title track is one of the highlights on the album with Larry Goldings’ Hammond (that’s also made appearance with Carla Bley, Michael Brecker, John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette, Maceo Parker, Curtis Stigers, Jim Hall, Jon Hendricks, Pat Metheny, John Pizzarelli and James Taylor to mention just a few) and a co-writing credit for the Walter Becker half of Steely Dan. Back in the 70s, Steely Dan was that strange thing of a jazz rock inspired act that was so popular they had big chart hits! Long lost times are they but Becker still shows he’s got it as he also gets in on the act on ‘You Cant’ Do Me’. This one has got some clever lyrics in it in the something-like a-something format; my personal favourite is “Screwed like a High School cheerleader”, but the musical vibe is more Little Feet than Steely Dan; top track this one.

‘River Of Tears’ is a real dreamy tune with that fine organ and some subdued violin that falls somewhere between blues and country and ‘Love And Treachery’ isn’t far behind with a little guitar slide which always sounds good.

On the not so promising side is ‘Our Lady Of Pigalle’, ‘Homeless Happiness’ and the opener ‘Instead’ that sounds too much like Lovin’ Spoonful’s ‘Daydream’ to me (I never liked that one and still don’t, coming soon yoghurt advert soon no doubt).

The album finishes on a high with some downtempo reflection of ‘I Must Be Saved and ‘To Love You All Over Again’.

In addition to the album, Peyroux is back over for further live dates and now she’s a big star, she’ll be more awake than at Madame JoJo’s and I might even make the Cheltenham Jazz Festival gig as it’s always good there.

UK tour dates:
26th April - Brighton Dome
27th April - Barbican, London
29th April - Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
1st May - Symphony Hall, Birmingham
2nd May - Cheltenham Jazz Festival (Everyman Theatre)

Reviewed: Madeleine Peyroux - Bare Bones (Rounder Records/Decca) Cat. No.: 613 2722 Release date: 2009
Notes: Recorded at Henson Studios, Hollywood, CA and Market Street, Santa Monica, CA.
Tracklisting:
1 Instead (5:12)
2 Bare Bones (3:26)
3 Damn The Circumstances (4:36)
4 River Of Tears (5:20)
5 You Can’t Do Me (5:03)
6 Love And Treachery (4:19)
7 Our Lady Of Pigalle (4:19)
8 Homeless Happiness (3:58)
9 To Love You All Over Again (3:58)
10 I Must Be Saved (4:44)
11 Somethin’ Grand (3:44)

Links:
www.madeleinepeyroux.com
www.larrygoldings.com
www.myspace.com/larrygoldingsmusic
www.decca.com
www.thepigalle.co.uk
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigalle