Patty Waters-Sings

Another great, smokey late night album from the legendary Esp-Disk. And This could be one of my favorites from a label that continuously put out challenging sounds. And while Waters is backed by Burton Greene and other Esp luminaries, this isn't a complete wig out, that is, until the second side. The first half of the album is some really hushed jazz croon, that threatens to disappear at any moment. It's really stripped down and really affecting. But most people want this for the second side, filled by the Ono-esque vocal maelstrom of "Black is the Color of my True Love's Hair." The whole things starts off in familiar territory, but it becomes apparent that Patty's pipes are the featured instrument on this freak out. Christ, her screams sound, at times, like Ornette's horn. Way ahead of it's time.

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