With one hand gripping the foam-lined steering bar of a pushchair, pianist and singer Brenda Earle Stokes scribbled into a notebook and whispered voice notes into her phone. Later, she carried those fragments into a studio for nine days and emerged with eight songs that form her sixth own-label release. It examines parenthood with candour plus a little campiness too.
Stokes spent years taking requests at late-night singalongs on cruise ships. Her facility at the keyboard and charismatic vocal delivery reflect those seaborn experiences, even when presenting insights from pram-pushing on dry land. Three fellow Canadian mothers join her in the studio: one trumpeter and two vocalists. Evan Gregor adds bass, with Ross Pederson on drums.
Intricate rhythmic shifts balance out syrupy lyrics on This Is Your Childhood. Ingrid Jensen’s trumpet takes tentative steps before squirming into the high register. Despite the Disney-ish flavour of the track’s sentiments, an open-hearted quality stops it slipping into kitsch.
Loose Tooth Blues is a 12-bar cycle with a honky-tonk sound. Stokes’ vocals are richer here and her sure-handed keywork is on full show. The band is tight. The piano solo is silky smooth. It’s a kittenish composition.
A less robust reviewer might have splattered paternal teardrops on his keyboard during Saying Goodbye. This one did. It’s another showcase of Stokes’ gift for combining punchlines with gut-punches. The lyrics explore the inevitable separation of parent and child. Again, Jensen sharpens the fluffy edges with eloquent statements that snuggle up close to the tune.
Brenda Earle Stokes is a polished pro who treats this potentially dewy-eyed theme with engaging vigour. Motherhood is homey, happy and alive with the joy of play. An impressive nine-day project.
Discography
The Endless Wait; This Is Your Childhood; Who Am I Now?; Where Are The Mothers?; Kathleen; Loose Tooth Blues; Saying Goodbye; Sharp Edges; The Strength Of A Woman; Happy Mother’s Day (51.25)
Ingrid Jensen (t); Earle Stokes (p, v); Evan Gregor (b); Ross Pederson (d); Melissa Stylianou, Nicole Zuraitis (v). New York, USA 2024.
brendaearle.com
