Barbara Higbie - Signs Of Life (1990)

While Barbara Higbie had been known principally as an instrumentalist and co-songwriter, working with Montreaux, Teresa Trull, and Darol Anger, among others, her solo debut for Windham Hill establishes a stunning vocal presence and a distinctive sound that effortlessly crosses over the genres of jazz, folk, and understated singer/songwriter pop. Higbie had an existing relationship with Windham Hill from her work with Montreaux; still, the vibrant "Someday" and lilting of African-influenced melody of "Open Eyes" are a far cry from the label's moody soundscapes. While light jazz enters the Signs of Life picture, mainly through instrumentation, Higbie is much more comfortable working as a singer/songwriter, proven by the confessional "Wishing Well," where she's joined only be surging strings. "Waiting Song" continues to showcase not only her expressive piano, but an incredible voice that falls somewhere between Carole King and a world-weary Natalie Merchant. It's not so much so the timbre of her vocal, but its sure tone that sells this material. She tosses off "Evening Rain" with a casual beauty that seems to say "Oh, this old thing?" Accompanied by atmospheric guitar soloing and reverb-heavy percussion, it's easy to see rain-slicked streets reflecting in the black lacquer of Higbie's piano. Raindrops dance in her graceful voice, but there's a jaded quality there -- it's like the awkward moments after a romantic walk in the rain, when you're just plain wet. Together with her tasteful piano lines and the easygoing, yet multidimensional, sound and pace of Signs of Life, it's almost a crime that Higbie hasn't released anything on her own until now.~ Review by Johnny Loftus