Maria Tecce knows how to dare and win
Sunday November 26 2006
GRAINNE
FARREN
Maria Tecce: Torch Song
Maria Tecce (vocals, guitar, piano), Phil Ware (piano), Dave Redmond (double bass), Kevin Brady (drums), Rory Pierce (cello), Dave McCune (guitar).
GERSHWIN'S Oh, Lady be Good! is so firmly associated with Ella Fitzgerald that few singers nowadays have the nerve to attempt it. Tecce dares and wins, creating her own scat lines and carrying it off with considerable brio.
In complete contrast is the poignant Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis, a whole life story in a song. She plays guitar on No One Needs to Know and Lilac Wine, and piano on The Other Woman. The ever-reliable Phil Ware Trio backs her on the other nine songs, with Rory Pierce on some tracks and Dave McCune on Mi Gran Amor, a Spanish translation of The Man I Love.
But, where Maria Tecce is concerned, there's nothing like the live experience. Judge for yourself next Saturday night at her Christmas show in Airfield, Dundrum.
Sean Hession's Frankly Sinatra show is a Yuletide regular by now. It's on in the Helix on Friday night, with the Dave Gold Band, Louis Stewart and Jim Doherty.
