Pop Torch
58th Street, 2023
8/10
This 3rd solo album from the former jingle writer Ellen Woloshin offers us songs spanning a century, plus a couple of originals, where her diverse background breathes new life into the 7 interpretations.
“Lucky Star” opens the listen with David Wasserman’s warm bass and Mick Gaffney’s cultured guitar amid Woloshin’s elegant singing, and “Keep Your Heart” follows with Gregory Toroian’s flowing keys and David Silliman’s precise drums for the emotive original.
Deeper into the listen, “When You Say Nothing At All” places Skip Ward on bass and Roberta Cooper on cello for the stirring interpretation of the classic popularized by Keith Whitley, while “Cheek To Cheek” is a lush and playful album highlight where Woloshin hits some high notes alongside the jumpy piano and frisky drums and bass.
Residing near the end, “You Can Do Magic” benefits from Aaron Heick’s soulful sax and the uplifting demeanor, and “You And A Blue Moon” exits with a dreamy presence by way of Jonny Rosch’s cozy keys, programming and backing vocals that illuminates the poetic original.
Woloshin puts a fresh coat of paint on songs we’ve all heard before, and her own songs sure do resonate well, too, where her lovely voice is easy to absorb and difficult to forget.
Travels well with: Rebecca Folsom- Sanctuary; Beth Leavel and Jeff Blumenkrantz- Regretting Almost Everything