Disc 1
The album opens with introductions, which are done in Japanese, followed by some stage banter. They then begin with a warm and rather spirited rendition of “I’m In The Mood For Love,” written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. There is a good deal of joy in Cathy Segal-Garcia’s delivery, which has a natural flow. And I love when she lets go and cuts loose, as when she dips into “Moody’s Mood For Love,” singing, “There I go, there I go, there I go, there I go/Pretty baby, you are the type that stops my control/Well, it’s a funny thing, but every time I’m near you I never can behave.” What a delight. She even lets out a little laugh at the end of that section, before Phillip Strange delivers a cool piano solo. That’s followed by “You’ve Changed.” At the beginning of this track, Cathy Segal-Garcia talks about an album they had recorded but which at that time had yet to be released. This is one of the songs they’d recorded for that album, their arrangement being in the bossa nova style. By the way, from what I can tell, this song did not make it onto the album when it was finally released. They then turn romantic with an excellent cover of “More Than You Know,” featuring an absolutely delightful piano solo in the middle.
These recordings were made during the holiday season, and so a few Christmas songs are included. The first is “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.” There is a good energy to this rendition. I particularly like Phillip Strange’s piano work, which lends more excitement to the piece than it usually has. Then “Day By Day” begins with piano. And when Cathy Segal-Garcia comes in, she starts with a bit of scat, and the two get playful. After a bit, they start to settle into the song, but certainly put their own spin on it, getting somewhat loose with it, keeping things bright, hopping and cheerful. After all, this is a love song about one’s dreams coming true. “The Nearness Of You” also begins with some solo piano work, but in a much mellower place. This is a beautiful rendition, Cathy Segal-Garcia turning in a heartfelt, warm and moving performance. Light a candle, turn off your phones, and hold that special person close while listening to this one. There are some gorgeous, intimate moments.
The only original composition on this two-disc set is “The Story,” written by Cathy Segal-Garcia. It was included on the duo’s Song Of The Heart album, which was recorded in September 1992. This one opens with some energetic work on piano. Her vocal performance likewise has a good energy. Here is a taste of the lyrics: “All around us stars and planets/Zip through the milky way/Life exists in many forms/Beyond our view there’s life enough anyway/Looking at the world today/It’s hard to know, hard to say/That life is growing better even day by day.” Indeed. And what is our part in the great story? Cathy Segal-Garcia delivers a bit of scat too, which seems fitting. Sometimes that is the best way to express a feeling. And then Phillip Strange takes off on the keys. This is an optimistic, positive song. They follow that with “Alice In Wonderland.” Cathy Segal-Garcia introduces it by talking about reading Through The Looking-Glass when she was a kid. “And I thought for a long time that you could go through the mirror. But I didn’t know how. But I decided I would figure it out someday. So this song is very sentimental for me.” She gets into this, and when she asks the question, “How do you get to Wonderland?” it seems that she really would like an answer. And perhaps Phillip Strange’s piano work will help us get there, or at least to some magical place of our own making, our own dreams. Then in the second half of the track, Cathy Segal-Garcia delivers some scat, but with much warmer tones, riffing in a wonderfully dreamy way. This song was written by Bob Hilliard and Sammy Fain.
Things then get hopping again with their rendition of “Honeysuckle Rose.” This track is a total delight. And you can bet there is some playful scat on this one. In fact, there is an extended section where she just lets it rip, receiving appreciative cheers and applause from the audience. And Phillip Strange’s solo is completely delicious. This is one of my personal favorite tracks on this disc. It is followed by the album’s second Christmas song, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas.” This is a warm, slow rendition, the focus being on the lyrics, with gentle piano work supporting Cathy Segal-Garcia’s voice. In the middle, when Phillip Strange takes his solo, he allows it to grow from that gentle place, not straying far, but rather maintaining that warm tone. It’s a really nice rendition. The first disc then concludes with “I Got Rhythm” (here listed as “I’ve Got Rhythm,” which of course is the grammatically correct version). I’ve said it many times, but you can never go wrong with Gershwin. This duo has a good time with this song. And it sounds like the crowd is snapping along to Phillip Strange’s spirited solo.
Disc 2
As the first disc began, so does the second disc, with an introduction given in Japanese. “This is actually about a love that is so good that you can’t believe it,” Cathy Segal-Garcia says as they begin “This Can’t Be Love,” written by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers. This song comes from The Boys From Syracuse, one of the few Shakespeare adaptations that I haven’t yet seen. Cathy Segal-Garcia and Phillip Strange deliver a cheerful, snappy rendition. I love that piano solo, and after it, there is a wonderful moment when Cathy Segal-Garcia sings, accompanied only by the audience clapping along. Very cool. They keep the energy pretty high with their rendition of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Desafinado.” It is interesting that the second song on each disc is a bossa nova number (well, in the case of the first disc, a song done in that style). I love that moment in the second half when she sings the line about the song being slightly out of tune, and then laughs at her own delivery. This is a completely enjoyable version.
They slow things down a bit then with a beautiful rendition of “When You Wish Upon A Star.” When Cathy Segal-Garcia sings, “When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true,” it seems like the truth, like a promise. How can you help but trust this voice? This track also features some gorgeous work on piano. That’s followed by “Taking A Chance On Love.” There is a bit of stage banter at the beginning of this track, about how love is the same in any language. This is a cheerful, romantic number, her voice carrying the excitement of falling in love. And yes, she delivers some sweet scat on this one, the audience applauding her performance. Then Phillip Strange’s piano solo seems to be dancing in the air, while also remaining partially grounded. And again, isn’t that the feeling of new love? The duo then delivers a good rendition of “How Long Has This Been Going On.” Again, you can never go wrong with Gershwin. Cathy Segal-Garcia’s vocals take on a power at certain moments, and the track also features a cool piano solo. That is followed by “Misty.” There is an intimate quality to Cathy Segal-Garcia’s vocal delivery, helping to make this another highlight of the disc. Plus, Phillip Strange gives us a really warm piano solo. And I love that pretty ending.
One of the best tracks on this disc is the duo’s rendition of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child.” Right from the start, it’s clear they are going to dig into this one and really go for it. Cathy Segal-Garcia delivers a moving and powerful vocal performance, soulful and earnest. She is completely captivating here. I love that brief, dramatic pause the second time she delivers the line, “Well, the rich relations may give you a crust of a bread and such.” Phillip Strange gives us an equally soulful piano solo. This is the album’s longest track, the song clocking in at more than eleven minutes. That’s followed by a good rendition of Cole Porter’s “Night And Day,” which features another strong and varied vocal performance. Then they give us a cool, popping rendition of “Sentimental Journey” that begins with some energetic playing on piano. Yes, their take has more verve than many versions I’ve heard, and I love it. That piano solo is excellent. The disc then concludes with a holiday classic, “The Christmas Song,” which begins with Phillip Strange setting the tone on piano. There is such a warm, cozy feel to this track, just what we need for this holiday season.
CD Track List
Disc 1
- Introductions
- I’m In The Mood For Love
- You’ve Changed
- More Than You Know
- Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
- Day By Day
- The Nearness Of You
- The Story
- Alice In Wonderland
- Honeysuckle Rose
- White Christmas
- I’ve Got Rhythm
Disc 2
- Introductions
- This Can’t Be Love
- Desafinado
- When You Wish Upon A Star
- Taking A Chance On Love
- How Long Has This Been Going On
- Misty
- God Bless The Child
- Night And Day
- Sentimental Journey
- The Christmas Song
Live In Japan was released on May 20, 2022 on Origin Records.
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