Alice Di Micele – Interpretations – Vol. 1
NJ-born & Oregon-based singer-songwriter Alice Di Micele (pronounced DeeMissEllie) is a veteran artist with 16 LPs to her credit. She’s been mixin’ up the medicine since 1988 & spent 35 years singing, writing, playing & touring. This project is her 17th which pays respect to the artists who’ve inspired her as performers & writers.
The collection draws on pieces with diverse backgrounds – Neil Young, Kate Wolf, Rev. Gary Davis, Christine McVie (Fleetwood Mac), Tom Petty, Abbey Lincoln, Sting & the Grateful Dead. (She didn’t mention me). So, Ms. Di Micele shook out some folk music, country blues & jazz & spiced it with her distinctive tradition.
This work became Alice’s own & the influences are defined. Nine cover songs grace Interpretations – Vol. 1 (Drops Jan 19–Independent/43:00). Emphasis on the word independent. There won’t be any million-dollar advertising campaign or marketing thrust. Produced by Alice & Bret Levick (bgv) the covers as showcased will invigorate the original track. It shows that the song has lasted decades just by mere reinterpretation & injecting nuances that were not evident in the original.
Neil Young is a good singer-songwriter & rock artist but I think Alice’s vocal interpretation of his vintage “Old Man,” is more compelling. The intensity is turned up. It’s never easy to take someone else’s song & produce a viable replica of the original or better, reinvent it. But that’s what Alice did with her authoritative satiny tones.
So, though Alice is meticulous with her Neil Young & Kate Wolf interpretations her folky strengths make it sound easy. But with “Death Don’t Have No Mercy,” Alice unleashes a bluesy powerful rock-inspired vocal — Janis Joplin would be proud. The slinky guitars howl wonderfully as the steady drums snap with the necessary juke-joint beat. The skirts are tight here, the smoke makes the air misty gray & the beer-scented room is home away from home for many & this song fits like a tender glove.
From folky to bluesy junctions to the pop-inflected Fleetwood Mac’s “Over My Head,” shifts gears for Alice from the gravel-voiced blues of Reverend Gary Davis to Christine McVie’s lovely warm-voiced confection. Alice continues to sing with that smoky warm voice that Christine cultivated for her version. Nice work.
Alice goes Cassandra Wilson-deep with her jazzy Abbey Lincoln cover of “Throw It Away” with a masterful understanding of easy listening lounge emulsion. Wonderful guitar work throughout. Almost makes me want to pour a cognac. Joni Mitchell would be envious.
Highlights – “Old Man,” “Death Don’t Have No Mercy,” “Over My Head,” “Square One,” “Throw It Away” & “Harvest Moon.”
Musicians – Alice (vocals/acoustic guitar/shaker), Rob Kohler (bass), Skip Edwards (keyboards), Nick Kirby (drums/electric guitar), Andy Casad (acoustic guitar), Dirk Price (electric guitar), Artie Watson (drums), Gene Black (electric guitar), Mimi Fox (acoustic guitars) & Joe Diehl (electric guitar).
Color image courtesy of Alice’s Bandcamp. CD @https://alicedimicele.bandcamp.com/album/interpretations-vol-1 & https://www.alicedimicele.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Song Premiere: Alice DiMicele “Alone”
