Billy Childs- Map To the Treasure; Reimagining Laura Nyro (2014)
Best Tracks: New York Tendaberry, Stoned Soul Picnic, Gibsom Street
Weakest Tracks: Upstairs By a Chinese Lamp , Been on a Train
This is a nice tribute to Laura Nyro by a jazz artist I wasn’t very familiar with up until now. I have heard some Laura Nyro, of course, and note that perhaps she was a better songwriter than recording artist. If one doesn’t believe me, one can only look at the many hits she penned while scoring none of her own.
As for the album, it was, overall, a wise selection of songs. It starts off like gangbusters with New York Tendaberry. It tails off a bit by Been On a Train but picks up right after on Stoned Soul Picnic.
I would have like to have heard other covers such as Eli’s Coming (The Three Dog Night version is my favorite Nyro song) and Sweet Blindness but, all in all, this is a nice selection. I will have to give this a solid like. Nice pick, Mic.
7/10 (the Word has spoken
)