TOM LEHRER: An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer (Hallmark) This is from my father’s eclectic collection. It’s delightfully funny, not only the songs but the droll patter in between. The way he worked with an audience had a real effect on me. It’s something I try to do in my shows.
ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST: Guys & Dolls (Hallmark) Another one in my dad’s collection so I heard these songs early on. I love the energy, the novelty songs and the ballads. I sometimes perform one of the lesser-known songs, More I Cannot Wish You. My first publishing deal was with writer Frank Loesser’s company, which was exciting.
JIM KWESKIN & THE JUG BAND: Jim Kweskin And The Jug Band (Deleted) When the folk boom started in the late Fifties, acoustic music was considered exciting. Jug band music is a southern black genre from the Twenties and Thirties and these suburban white guys with paisley shirts and sunglasses re-presented it.
THELONIOUS MONK: Solo Monk (Sony) I came to jazz late. It was interesting and complex. My main focus is lyric writing so maybe it was a release from words. This has standards like Dinah and Sweet And Lovely but his piano playing is uniquely original and he’s one of our greats.
ANAïS MITCHELL: Young Man In America (Wilderland) I heard this a few years ago. She was clearly influenced by folk music but there’s a new wave of acoustic music hearkening back to a different time that transcends genre. Her rhyming schemes are very subtle and she’s a wonderful guitarist.
TOO SAD FOR THE PUBLIC: American Folk Fantasies Vol.1 (StorySound) Arranged by a friend of mine, Dick Connette, so I’m prejudiced. Dick and I did a record called High Wide & Handsome which won a Grammy. He takes older types of music and reworks it so it’s a compelling mix. It includes Led Zeppelin drum samples.