PARRY RAY - The Way I'm Wired : Jazz CD Reviews

1.Picture Perfect
2. Out of the Water
3. Is it any Wonder?
4. Angels Stroking Your Hair
5. Let Our Chaos Reign
6. I Feel for You
7. Where Do You Start?
8. Camel's Back is Broken
9. Snuff
10. Moment is Passed
11. 7 Days

I reviewed her first album `My Life in Pieces' and my view is still the same: this is a lady of real talent, an accomplished musician, singer and composer. I understand that this album was made in Norway using an unnamed bunch of Norwegian musicians; I got that information from her website. Unfortunately there was no explanation as to why a record that could have been made just as easily in the UK was recorded in Scandinavia. I don't imply any criticism of the Norwegian musicians however, they are excellent.

Unlike the previous album, all of the songs are her own compositions. I can think of many reasons for this, but I think it is much more difficult for the listener when there is nothing familiar. I have to admit, on the plus side, that every one of these tunes is musical and interesting.

I like Parry Ray's performances, but I am wondering which direction her career is going. She should be doing the jazz festivals with some top jazz musicians and going on to concert tours, but information on her plans seems to be non-existent. A lot of potentially great jazz talents get poor career advice and fade away; Parry is too good for that to happen to her.

Don Mather

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