1. Simple things (intro) [Mina Agossi] 1.16
2. Feeling good [A; Newley, L. Bricusse] 3;
56
*with Manolo Badrena
3. Money [Pink Floyd] 3.58
*with Manolo Badrena
4. It hurts [Mina Agossi] 4.52
*with Manolo Badrena
5. Twisted [Wardell Gray, Annie Ross] 3.35
*with Fred Dupont
6. A good man is hard to find [E.Green] 2.27
French Lyrics by Mina Agossi.
*with Manolo Badrena
7. Brittany [Mina Agossi] 3.57
8.1983 [A merman I should turn to be] [Jimi
Hendrix] 5.21
9. Aquellos ojos verdes [Nilo Menéndes,
Adolpho Utrera] 3.42
10. What do you want? [Mina Agossi :music
by Felix Bernard] 2.59
*with Fred Dupont
11. Funny [Mina Agossi, Eric Jacot] 2.48
12. Dardanella [Lyrics by Mina Agossi: music
by Felix Bernard] 2.59
13. Simple Things [Mina Agossi, text: Racos]
2.44
*with Racos [rap]
Eric Jacot [bass]
Ichiro Onoe [drums]
Manolo Badrena [percussions]
Fred Dupont [Mini Moog]
Racos [rap]
Nina Agossi’s diction in
all languages is excellent, but despite her
voice lacking color and variation, one is
compelled to follow the lyrics because they
are so clear.
Suddenly in track 7 there
is an explosion of Gallic outpouring which
is almost incongruous in the context of the
other items but has the desired effect of
re-focusing the listener on the Music.
Yet regardless of the homogeneous
quality of her vocal sound, Miss Agossi and
her musicians capture the essential moods
of the songs partially by invention and partially
by reference to other works. The Bolero Rhythm
in track 8 juxtaposed with Jimi Hendrix is
surprisingly effective and a tribute to the
superb musical foundation from the instrumentalists
which supplies the foundation of the Music..
There are few wasted notes
on this CD because every member strives for
a minimalist relevance which never swamps
the vocal line. There are hardly any fireworks
and the restrained instrumentalists create
an effect akin to listening to chamber music.
The addition of rap by Racos
is not particularly significant, apart from
showing the Miss Agossi’s melodic line is
a cut above the spoken word.
I found this CD both interesting
and infuriating.
If one goes along with the
idea that vocal music without words would
not work for long, then it is the words that
should inject the color into the vocal line.
But there is little word
painting, - just marvelous diction.
The reverse of the coin is
the story of the man who complained to an
impresario that he couldn’t hear the words
in Opera and was told that if he just wanted
a story to go away and read it.
I also thought of Bob Dylan,
whose voice is not exactly a Pavarotti or
a Sinatra but it is certainly enough to carry
his messages and Nina Agossi can undoubtedly
sell lyrics with equal skill.
Adrienne Fox
CD Reviews
CCD 79864 CANDID
