Lisa Young Quartet @ Bennets Lane The Age 48 Hours, October 2006
“the sum of Young’s musical journey…Captivating musical tales.”
JESSICA NICHOLS: It’s been seven years since Lisa Young released a CD under her own name. The singer has devoted most of her time to the successful a cappella group Coco’s Lunch, with regular recordings and a busy touring schedule in Australia and overseas. In the meantime, though, she has been quietly accumulating a repertoire of originals for her jazz-based quartet.
The result is a beautiful CD, Grace, which represents the sum of Young’s musical journey so far. There are delicate ballads – where the focus is kept firmly on the melody and vivid lyrics – that recall the singer’s early forays into folk music.
There are striking passages of konnakol (vocal percussion) that reflect Young’s exploration of Indian music, filtered through her own creative prism. And, of course, there is the interplay that comes from her love of jazz.
Ben Robertson (Young’s close collaborator and life partner for the past 18 years) uses his bass to echo and magnify the singer’s vocals. Dave Beck, another long-time associate, is the quartet’s dynamic and supremely flexible drummer. The newest member of the group is guitarist Steve Magnusson, whose sensitivity allows him to add his own interpretative colours without obstructing the flow of Young’s captivating musical tales.
