Live albums have ranged from the definitive recordings for some artists, to embarrassments for others. With the high turnover rate of artists on the major-label pop scene, in which the record companies quickly drop artists if they don't go platinum on their first or second release, not a lot of artists on major labels are getting to the stage of putting out live albums.

This week we have a delightful live recording from an artist who has reached the point in her career where a concert recording would be appreciated by her fans. But, typical of the state of the music industry, she was dropped by the major label for which she had recorded. So she released the album herself on her own label. It's simply called Jonatha Brooke Live.

Jonatha Brooke came to public attention as the songwriting half of the much-acclaimed Boston-area folk duo called The Story. After releasing a debut album in 1991 on the folk and Celtic-oriented label Green Linnet Records, the group was picked up by Elektra, which re-released Grace in Gravity and issued their 1993 follow-up, The Angel in the House. Then a year or so later, Ms. Brooke and Jennifer Kimball went their separate ways, and in 1995 Ms. Brooke released a solo album called Plumb under the name "Jonatha Brooke and the Story," which featured similarly high-quality songwriting and vocal work that marked The Story, though without original duo's distinctive two-part harmonies.

Ms. Brooke's next solo album was called Ten Cent Wings, and got a fair amount of critical notice, but as a sophisticated and thoughtful record, it sold nowhere near the millions of pop stars like Jewel or Fiona Apple, so Ms. Brooke was dropped by MCA Records. But like many of the bright lights on the folk scene, she had developed a considerable fan base through frequent touring, mailing lists and a presence on the Internet. That led her to decide to release her next album independently. She originally intended to do a set for her fans that contained both new songs and versions of previous material she felt would more accurately reflects the way she was doing the songs in performance. So she took some recording gear on the road, and ended up with enough first-rate material that the project became an all-live CD, comprised of performances of previously recorded songs, in the manner of a classic pop-star live album.

While Jonatha Brooke Live will probably find its most receptive audience from among the artist's existing fan base, it's also an excellent album to help introduce more listeners to this articulate, poetic songwriter with a beautifully clear voice. The CD contains a collection of songs that span both of The Story albums and her two previous solo recordings, given rather different treatments, ranging from a stark solo performance to tracks with a whole band. She is joined by various supporting musicians, depending on from which tour stop the recording came, and include her current regular trio with Ingrid Graudins on keyboards and harmony vocals, and Nick D'Virgilio on bass, percussion and some backing vocals. Among the guests are jazz drummer Brian Blade, and guitarists Gerry Leonard and Duke Levine.

One of the common dilemmas with music from a sophisticated singer-songwriter like Jonatha Brooke is that there is the temptation in making studio albums to add additional instrumentation and production, and that, ironically, often makes the songs themselves a more difficult to appreciate as compositions. The more scaled-back live settings of her songs on this CD give the listener a better appreciation of Ms. Brooke as a writer, and as a singer who can pull off her memorable vocals as well on a stage as in the studio, where one can have as many retakes required for perfection. In that respect, the album is also impressive.

The CD leads off with a solo performances: Annie is a song from her Ten Cent Wings album. It's typical of Ms. Brooke's fine writing, both lyrically and musically. Ms. Brooke's instantly memorable vocals are at once sultry and confessional. <<>>

The supporting musicians make their first appearance on West Point a song originally on her Plumb album. The arrangement is outwardly similar to the studio version, though drummer Brian Blade revises the rhythmic approach, giving the piece an almost march-like quality. Again, Ms. Brooke's vocals are almost riveting, executing graceful acrobatics and pirouettes in both pitch and dynamics. <<>>

One of the songs from the second album by The Story called At the Still Point is given one of this live CD's bigger arrangements, with Gerry Leonard featured doing some electric guitar atmospherics and vocalist Ingrid Graudins providing some nice harmonies in the style of the original recording. Even though this track comes close to rocking out, in this live version Ms. Brooke more effectively conveys the song, with its outstanding wordcraft. <<>>

Ms. Brooke writes a lot of love songs, expressing various shades of emotions and noting relationships in a range of conditions. Though it's the most common subject for songwriting, Ms. Brooke can cast a different light on the well-covered ground. Because I Told You So, originally from the Ten Cent Wings album is a good example. It elegantly expresses a kind of longing for confirmation of what could be an uncertain relationship. The performance and arrangement, with Gerry Leonard's plaintive electric guitar colors, encapsulates the mood of longing expressed by the song. <<>>

Three of the CD's tracks were recorded at a music festival in Boston, "during Hurricane Bonnie" as Ms. Brooke writes in her notes. The personnel is somewhat different from the rest of the performances, with Duke Levine on guitar and Mark Rivard on bass, who appeared on previous albums by Brooke and the Story, and Tom Hambridge on drums. One of songs, Is This All is a great improvement from the original version which appeared on the Plumb album in 1995, which had drum loops and too many overdubbed vocals. Here, Ms. Graudins joins with Ms. Brooke in backing vocals, while the band gives the song an easy-going, slow, loping rhythm. <<>>

Also from the Boston show is Where Were You, likewise from the Plum album. There was a little blues influence in the arrangement of the original recording. But here Levine and the band turns it into a kind of lowdown swamp blues, which provides an effective setting for the rather sardonic lyrics. <<>>

Perhaps the most distinctive arrangement is on the song Ten Cent Wings whose music and lyrics both follow circuitous paths of mood. The accompaniment features just the piano of Ms. Graudins and a cello played by Gerri Sutyak. <<>>

The album ends with a traditional American folk song that was recorded by The Story accompanied by a piano. This version of In the Gloaming is a striking acapella treatment with Ingrid Graudins providing the other vocal, in the wonderfully distinctive two-part harmony style that marked The Story. Brooke and Graudins change the harmonic structure of the song somewhat, to make it even more interesting and plaintive. <<>>

I read the other day that the new Alanis Morrissette album is considered a disappointment since it sold only four million copies. It's little wonder that an artists as intelligent and subtle as Jonatha Brooke was dropped by the major label that had rather surprisingly signed her in the first place. Now she has gone the independent route to release Jonatha Brooke Live. Freed from commercial constraints like pressure for too much instrumentation, a heavy beat, and bad sound, Ms. Brooke was able to re-examine some of the songs from her eight-year recording career, and provide to her fans honest, spirited performances of her subtle, multifaceted songs. In most cases, the interpretations on this live album are more appealing than the originals. Perhaps because she was in front of an audience trying to reach them in person, the songs take on added life and draw the listener into both the lyrics and the tasteful musical settings. Although the first Story album was nothing short of amazing, Jonatha Brooke Live comes close.

In terms of sound quality, the album is first-rate. Ms. Brooke uses an amplified acoustic guitar the output of which is the guitar sound heard, rather than having the richer sound of the actual acoustic instrument with good microphones in front of it, but it's still a pleasing sound. Ms. Brooke's vocals are outstanding, and the overall mix is excellent, especially for a live album. The only quibble is that the audience seems a little distant. The dynamic range of the recording is also quite commendable.

While Jonatha Brooke Live is mainly aimed at her existing fan base, and is primarily being made available through her website, those who have not yet heard this extraordinary singer-songwriter will be in for a treat on this beautiful album.

(c) Copyright 1999 George D. Graham. All rights reseved.
This review may not be copied to another Web site without written permission.

<<>> indicates audio excerpt played in produced radio review

Comments to George:

To Index of Album Reviews | To George Graham's Home Page. | What's New on This Site.

This page last updated August 03, 2014