Jolie Holland,
Escondida

Label: ANTI
Year: 2004

(5 out of 5)

Like fellow songstress with Texas roots Norah Jones, Jolie Holland defies easy classification. Her 2004 studio debut, Escondida, alternates from blues to jazz to folk to soul to bowery swing. But perhaps classification is overrated. With a gorgeous voice, lush instrumentation, and a scratchy sound reminiscent of dusty old LPs, it doesn't matter how you try to pigeonhole Holland's style. Escondida is simply great postmodern music.

Born in Louisiana but raised in Texas, Holland was a child prodigy on the piano. By her teens she added violin and guitar before heading West to co-found folk outfit the Be Good Tanyas. After 2001's critically acclaimed Blue Horse, Holland opted for a solo career.

Holland shared copies of an early solo recording session with friends, who then passed it on their friends, etc. Soon frenzied word of mouth prompted sales of Catalpa at concerts and online. All this before Holland even intended to make her public debut.

That planned debut is Escondida: a throwback to multi-talented vocalists like Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone.

Escondida is the rare album that I find difficult to go a week without listening to. Favorites are the opening "Sascha," the quasi-scat of "Mad Tom of Bedlam," the Americana twang of "Goodbye California," the strolling "Do You?" and the wistful "Damn Shame." But really, each of the album's dozen tracks has ranked among my favorites at one point or another.

Suddenly the jazzy chanteuse is back in style, with Norah Jones and New York's Madeleine Peyroux garnering the bulk of critical attention.

But Jolie Holland merits at least as much acclaim. After all, with the exception of a couple traditional tunes, Holland writes her own material. And as a multi-instrumentalist she's capable of leading band mates in any musical direction.

Holland is scheduled to return to the studio this spring. Perhaps she'll soon gain the level of national recognition she deserves.

Buy: Lone Star Music, Amazon

January 20, 2005