Patty Carpenter, Melissa Shetler - Under My Hat (2002) FLAC

A family who plays jazz together stays together, or so it seems from the family affair on Patty Carpenter's latest CD. Joined by daughter Melissa Shetler on vocals and the Dysfunctional Family Jazz Band, led by son-in-law Scott Shetler, Carpenter and her group gathered themselves in a farm house set in the midst of the bucolic surroundings of the Delaware Gap to put this entertaining session together. One of the pleasant surprises on this album is that mother and daughter have their own quite distinctive and separately recognizable voice. No vocal cloning here. Patty Carpenter's is clearly horn-inflected, with a jazzy feel for the music. Daughter Melissa Shetler has more of what might be called the adenoid sound, characteristic of many of today's pop singers. These disparate sounds come together very well both when they solo and when they harmonize. One of the many exemplary tracks on the set is a raise-the-arms-and-voices-to-the-heavens version of Bobby Timmons' "Moanin'," with Scott Shetler playing a preacher testifying from his musical pulpit. Another fine cut is "Glory of Love," with Shetler laying down some serious sax over which the jaunty vocals of mother and daughter ride. There's no jazz vocal style these two singers don't handle with ease and aplomb. A Latin version of "Watch What Happens" has the two weaving voices in, out, and around each other for some scintillating call-and-response harmonizing. The cleanly picked guitar of Draa Hobbs helps considerably on this track. "They Can't That Take Away From Me" conjures a small club setting with happy customers enjoying the music and ambience. This family obviously enjoys working together, as there's nothing stiff or reserved about the performances on this recommended album.