"WOMEN WITH VOICES" COMPILATION CD SLAMCD 402

TRACK DETAILS:

1 I’m glad there is you 4m 47s Shirley Kent vcl; Malcolm Gibbons gtr; Jeff Pearson bs; Hal Shaw pno. Recorded at Zella Studio Birmingham, England 23 June 1975

2 Infant eyes 5 16 Mandy Fox vcl; Meredith White pno; Mark Fenby bs; Mike Pickering dms; Andor Jensen sop sax. Recorded at Backtrack Studio Croydon, England 21 April 1993.

3 Missing 5 12 As for track 2.

4 Play with light and shade 6 48 Vanessa Mackness vcl; Barry Guy bs. Recorded at 33 Arts Luton, England. 14 Nov 1990

5 Isadora and Kryia 3 50 Alquimia vcl. Recorded at 27 Studio Mexico City, Mexico. March/April 1991.

6 January thaw 3 47 Liz Hodgson vcl; George Haslam bari sax. Recorded at The Holywell Music Room, Oxford, England. 31 Jan 1992.

7 Alot to answer for 4 32 Marion Hammon vcl; Ian Smith tpt; Rick Bolton gtr; Simon Thorpe bs; John Stevens dms. recorded at Woodwarf Studios, London, England 3 Sept 1992.

8 Mele Honua 7 49 Viv Dogan-Corrington vcl; Mike Cooper gtr, electronics. Recorded at the Steamrooms, London, England. March 1993

9 A Bit of a risk 3 09 Alison Bentley vcl; Liam Noble pno; Dave Jones bs; Hamish Birchall dms. Recorded at Premises Studio, London, England. 19 Sept. 1993.

10 Maybe As for track 9. 3 59

11 Foxes’ revenge Polly Bolton vcl; Paul Dunmall Northumberland pipes. Recorded at Lanes End Studio, Kidderminster, England. 3 April 1993.

12 Cradle song 3 50 Julie Tippetts, Maggie Nichols vcls; Sue Ferrar, Sylvia Hallett vlns. recorded at The Air Gallery, London, England. 4 March 1989.

13 If I don’t love you 4 20 Dorothy Shaw vcls, pno. Recorded at Tim’s Place, Oxford, England. 14 May 1993.

14 Mm-chu-agh 4 12 Ox Vox - Bentley, Fox, Hodgson vcls; Haslam bari sax, grunts. Recorded at Tim’s Place, Oxford, England. 18 May 1993.

15 Pig war 4 25 Linda Lee Welch treated voice, talking dress; John Jasnoch gtr. Recorded at The Owl & Thistle, Seattle, USA, 3 Dec 1992.

16 Everything 3 54 Alquimia vcl. Recorded at Journey Studio, London, England. March 1993.

CADENCE What we have here is a compilation/collection that covers stylistic ground aplenty. From the traditionalism of Shirley Kent to the avant aspirations of Alquimia and everything in between, Women with Voices is often stimulating and always varied. Highlights include the focused duet between Vanessa Mackness and bassist Barry Guy, the exotically compelling "Mele Honua" from Dogan-Corringham and Mike Cooper, Dorothy Shaw's beautifully sad "If I Don't Love You" and the timelessness of Peggy Bolton's "Foxes Revenge", which features the Northumberland Pipes of Paul Dunmall. Creativity is high throughout this collection, which makes it a sure bet for anyone looking to pick up a wide-ranging audio survey of the female voice. Sound quality is variable but acceptable. Compiler Tim Turan and producer George Haslam deserve a pat on the back for putting together this excellent, intelligently organized collection. CARL BAUGHER

THE CHOICE "The most exciting women in jazz, folk and improvisation" is how this collection bills itself - and that's no empty claim, for among these sixteen tracks are some hugely enjoyable performances. This album has been one of the delights of the year for me. There's an extraordinary variety on display and only one piece that I really can't get into, 'Pig War' by The Skits, which is high scoring for such an eclectic compilation. Shirley Kent (ex-'70s cult band Ghost) opens proceedings with a classically blue number 'I'm Glad There is You', first released on the Ghost album 'Forever A Willow'. That's actually the only track in this collection to have been released before. A couple of very pleasing Mandy Fox songs follow, 'Infant Eyes', co-written with Wayne Shorter, displays the richness of Mandy's voice; 'Missing' swings with all the turbulence of a windy night and arrives at a breath-taking conclusion. Other members of Ox Vox have contributed pieces - Liz Hodgeson performs 'January Thaw' accompanied by Mr Haslam's baritone sax; Alison Bentley sings 'Bit Of A Risk' with lots of excellent scat-singing over piano, bass and drums and then 'Maybe', which is beautiful. Ox Vox then come together for the syncopated, controlled and (amusingly) enjoyable 'Mm-Chuh-Agh'. Elsewhere, Polly Bolton (ex-Albion Band) performs 'Foxes' Revenge' assisted by Paul Dunmall on Northumberland pipes, Julie Tippetts and Maggie Nicols contribute an exquisite improvisation in their Madli's Mum incarnation (with Sylvia Hallett and Sue Ferrar on violins), Dorothy Shaw plays and sings 'If I Don't Love You' and reminds one of all that was great about Joni Mitchell in the process, and Mexican musician Alquimia brings two pieces to the collection, 'Isadora and Kryia' and the rivetting soundscape, 'Everything', which closes the album. This really is a most impressive set indeed and if you are a sucker for the subtlety, range and emotion of the female voice, then there has to be something to excite your ears and emotions in this excellent showcase. STEVE ROWLAND