apple review #2 (o’neil)
Heather Marie Philipp
Under the Apple (independent)
Not only is Heather Marie Philipp a joy to listen to but she surrounds herself with stellar musicians that exponentially add color and depth to this vocalist’s original songs. With a three-octave range that sounds incredible down low, Philipp could be compared to the breathiness of Norah Jones, albeit more mature sounding, and the earthy tone of Madeleine Peyroux, yet warmer.
Under the Apple (c) 2008 Heather Marie Philipp
Under the Apple opens with the jazzy flugelhorn intro of “To Remember You.” Philipp’s smooth, edgy alto vocals glide along with the bass and is nicely built upon by the slow addition of instruments. First the brushed snare drum and then the piano entrance make a natural crescendo delicately enhancing Philipp’s build into the last dramatic verse. Then after repeating the chorus once more, she melts away into nothingness. Philipp is accompanied by brass again, this time by a muted trumpet, in the bluesy funk tune “Clear Blue Sky.” The songstress maintains excellent control of her mid and upper registers and exhibits clear enunciation throughout the piece.
“Counting Stars” opens with a sampled clip of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra which mixes into a soulful R&B beat. Heavy bass and electric buzz add to this cool, seductive number. The violin effect on the keyboard adds a shrill edge when mixed with Philipp’s soaring melody. While the instrumentation is an aural pleasure, there are times when less is more, especially since Philipp’s voice is an extreme instrument in itself. The poetic ballad “You Bring Me Alive” opens with just vocals, piano and strings. That piece could stand alone without any extra instruments because Philipp has the ability and vocal prowess to pull it off. Her delivery of the songs she has penned flow easily from her lips and demonstrates a true understanding of the genre she has chosen to pursue.
With such an incredible voice, Philipp could sing many different types of music. The jazz world should be honored and proud to welcome her into the scene.
-Kelly O’Neil
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