Anouschka Lucas: Jazz Singer or category error?

[Serial_Apologist]

Watching yesterdays Regional News on BBC 1, this lady suddenly came up for a mini-profile, having won Some Important Award or other I'd never heard of, natch, and I thought, hmmm, another would-be-star-in-the-making coming up on the inside lane, or, talent in the best sense of the word of some kind? And I thought, ah yes! the discerning Ian Thumwood will know!

http://www.mymzk.com/anoushkalucas/anoushkalucas.html

That track has a jaunty, 60s feel to it.

http://www.jazzwisemagazine.com/news-mainmenu-139/70-2013/12731-jazz-breaking-news-anoushka-lucas-wins-love-supreme-jazz-fest-discerns-competition

Here she is chatting amiably on youtube (not to me), probably before the above announcement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=cPf2tXwRxUk&NR=1

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

to my ears she lacks a certain je ne sais
quois .... not a Peyroux, less fun than Caro Emerald ....

i prefer Anita .... the hats man, the hats!

[Ian Thumwood]

SA

I'm afraid that I've never heard of her. She seems like a less hip version of Norah Jones and the music is too lightwieght and breezy to be jazz. I suppose the nearest equivalent would be someone like Gaby Moreno although I think the Guatamalean singer has more clout than Anouschka Lucas. She is certainly more informed by jazz but her last album "Postales" included such a wide range of styles from Piaf, Trad Jazz, 50-ish crooner-ish and 60's pop that she defies categories. Still, I think she has a terrific voice and I can vouch for her abilities at performing live.

I don't mind some of this kind of music by the likes of Norah Jones but it does ware thin pretty quickly. The first Norah Jones album has a few good tracks and the better elements are very good. Unfortunately, the weaker stuff is just too ordinary. The same applies to GM.

[MrGongGong]

I don't mind some of this kind of music by the likes of Norah Jones but it does ware thin pretty quickly. The first Norah Jones album has a few good tracks and the better elements are very good. Unfortunately, the weaker stuff is just too ordinary. The same applies to GM.

She's not a patch on her Dad
(or even her half-sister )

[Ian Thumwood]

Mr Gonggong

Maybe, but she is easier on the eye.

This is perfectly acceptable pop:-

[Ian Thumwood]

I like this one too:-

[Ian Thumwood]

I really like this one too. At least she doesn't wack her old man and dump the body in the lake as with the previous video!
Not too sure about the dog though. It's more like a rat than a canine.

[MrGongGong]

Mr Gonggong

Maybe, but she is easier on the eye.

Oh Please don't go into that mode

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgCpkduEQ7U

I went to this gig
a classic example of how mr Bell drags every note out with agony
and the sublime Anoushka simply smiles and plays with utter fluidity and technical brilliance

[Ian Thumwood]

Indian classical music is something I respect rather than enjoy. I can appreciate the technical aspect and the complexity of it but unfortunately the lack of variety (excuse my ignorance) means that I don't really dig what they are playing. I feel the same about a lot of classical music too and can remember going to hear a Bax piano sonata performed and thinking what on earth was the point of that. It just wasn't a great piece of music and to practice and perfect something so ordinary seemed an odd bit of faith.

I think it's ok to be in to particular pop acts but not to expect too much. From experience I think that pop records tend to be a 1/3rd excellent, 1/3 very ordinary and 1/3 absolute dross that no self-resepcting "serious" musician would put out.A few weeks ago I was checking out Imogen Heep having been staggered at some of the recordings of her's I'd heard on Youtube. Snapping up the record, it was gutting to discover that there are some very inspired musical ideas on the record yet also tunes which you wonder why they were released as they are to the detriment of the artist.

The Moreno and Jones' tracks are simply good tunes and the music hangs together better than the Lucas efforts. I feel that the Norah Jones songs are pretty good and have nice arrangements. I originally liked Peyroux and her first album is terrific - how could it be anyhing else with the booting sax playing of James Carter. I didn't think she took the muisc too respectfully and was quite happy to toss ideas around and have a good time. However, I've also heard Melody Gardot perform live and although she seems to enjoy a sizeable fan base, for me she is pretty dreadful as an artist. I think these "fringe of jazz" singers are a mixed bunch and their records can be uneven.

Still, if you want a pop meets jazz hybrid, I think this lady takes some beating!! Impossible not to enjoy Angelique Kidjo - the music starts after about 4 mins. Don't know who the tromonist is, but he is brilliant :-