GINGER LEIGH – AMAZING

Now the first thing I know about Ginger Leigh is that she can laugh at herself — and while she truly IS “Amazing,” the only time she might try to pull that one off on you is if she is doing card tricks or a magic stunt. Just for effects. Because first and foremost, Ginger is a showman, the daughter of show business, and holder of what amounts to a Ph.D. in entertainment.

On the other hand, Ginger is by no means all glitter and no guts — she has made some hard choices that have sometimes had hidden or even very visible costs. Not that long ago, Ginger hosted one of the best song series in my Austin memory — at Flamingo Cantina. She has also appeared on stage at the Zachary Scott Theatre and performed all over Europe, put out numerous albums (most of which I have been privileged to review), and become a real force in this little river town.

I grabbed the new CD from Ginger in a handoff at the W Hotel as both of us were in the middle of business meetings … and smiled as she gave me a huge hug. She also thanked me for turning her onto Sarah’s new disc, noting that hers is heavily produced and Sarah’s is much starker — evidence of the very disparate directions their musical paths have taken since the days of the Ginger and Sarah Show (in which Sarah was clearly the straight woman and Ginger the comic — well, most of the time).

Back to the present — The title cut, “Amazing,” was written by Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde. Ginger also covers Dayna Kurtz, Nino Ferrer (in Italian), and Mark Addison and Nina Singh (twice) — and the rest are all her own songs (though she truly makes other people’s songs her own as well). At least two — “Better Than Well” and “Jetstream” — are studio remakes of songs on her prior album, “Better Than Well: Live at the Saxon .” One cannot mention GInger (or John Pointer) without also mentioning Patronism and the many patrons who contribute monthly toward her art. Check it out!

Ginger is joined in the studio by longtime collaborator and boy genius John Pointer on guitars and vocals, Dave Madden and Stewart Cochran on keyboards, Nina Singh herself on drums, Frank Favacho on percussion, Jeff Botta on bass, Jake Langely on lead guitar on three cuts, and the lovely Wendy Colonna on backing vocals on four songs. Cris Burns was the engineer at Summit Studio in Austin, and Ginger was her own producer. Even though this is a studio recording, you get that same sense of joy that you got from the prior live record — that you are AT a Ginger Leigh show, and for me that is as good as it was for OLDER people to get to see Bette Midler live and up close. Except Ginger is a LOT cuter!

One of the special features of this recording is Ginger singing along to an old recording of her grandmother Jane Tutu Cones (who passed away last year at the age of 82) to “That’s My Desire,” written by Helmy Kresa and Carroll Lovesday a very long time ago. (You may remember the Louis Armstrong version.) Ginger’s grandma had her own radio show in San Antonio and sang with Big Bands locally and nationally — and she was the mother to the Cones Sisters (including Ginger’s mom) — which makes Ginger at least a third generation entertainer.

The title song is power pop (as done by Ginger). Her own song “Your Place,” which follows, is sort of jazzy funk .. perfect for sloppy slow dancing. I almost visualize Michael Jackson slipping and sliding on the dance floor. The Dayna Kurtz ballad, “Love Gets in the Way,” is squeeze her tight and don’t let go slow dancing,. Longtime fans will recognize the true funk in “Better Than Well,” which is also an anthem to Ginger’s recovery from breast cancer … and a huge celebration of life lived to its fullest.

“Driver’s Seat” is a bittersweet ballad about her family and a lost love … “I wanted more than you could give to me … “ with this great line, “you were my continent and I was your city,” that describes the difference in commitment level that led to the end of a vision. “My Dear” evokes the spirit of the Broadway ballad — theatrical, showing Ginger’s emotional vocal range. “Jetstream,” remains for me maybe Ginger’s best song in ten years … a power ballad she just belts out, showing the pain that evokes the call to “rescue me.”

The musical journey of Mark Addison and Nina Singh began (I am told) with The Borrowers in a land long ago and far away (Los Angeles), then moved the band to Austin and released more music, some under the name KittyGordon (about the time I got to Austin and started paying attention). I will post an update later that gives better information on their two songs covered by Ginger here.

“Godspeed” closes out the album (well, not really) — Ginger sings that “there are no boundaries placed on our dreams … Life is all about living — no regrets and no shame.” Not so oddly, this song has the same message of sorts that closes out Sarah’s latest album — that despite the failure (or just the temporality) of hoped for long-term relationships, we just have to keep on flying through life. The “bonus” track, “Bring Back the Light,” is a sort of slower soul pop that reminds me of Lauryn Hill.

Ginger has a show (I think it is a CD release) scheduled on April 26 at One 2 One Bar. I would plan on getting there early and grabbing a drink or two. Once the music starts you will neither have the time nor the inclination. With the band she is sure to assemble for the show, you too will fixated on the stage! - FlanFire.co

Fan Quotes

"Ginger has performed at several of our house concerts over the past few years, and every performance has been memorable. To say that Ginger is an Austin singer-songwriter may be accurate, but it seems like such an understatement. Ginger is so much more than a singer and songwriter. She is a creative force, a stage performer, an actress, a writer, and an entertainer who takes her audiences on a journey full of rhythm, melody, humor, emotion and style." - Jim Tilly, Tulsa, OK

"Always a delight to see, and hear, and never failing to satisfy your heart and your soul with her broad repertoire, Ginger will heat you up, grind you down, then cool you off, before making you beg for more -but you don't have to beg - just be there!!" - Stevie Bear, owner of Bear's Lair Concert Series.