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Julian Yeo:
Old New Borrowed Blue


1. Boston In The Rain
2. Steppin Out With My Baby
3. Let's Misbehave
4. You Took Advantage Of Me
5. Everytime We Say Goodbye
6. Blue Skies
7. Stompin' At The Savoy
8. That Old Black Magic
9. Stand In Line
10. Just One Of Those Things
11. Fever
12. Satin Doll



1. Boston In The Rain

Julian Yeo sounds at times as if he came straight out of the Greatest Generation. Jesse Gelber's music is a blend of the sounds found in early jazz, but with a distinctly modern aesthetic in all aspects of it. I'm willing to bet that if they had been making music in the 30's and 40's, they would have been right at home alongside the people they pay tribute to throughout the album. The piano tune that begins this first song is light and relaxing, providing a hook that drives the vocal melody and makes it one of the most catchy and memorable tracks on the album. Being an original composition, if 'Boston In The Rain' is an indication of things to come, this group has a bright future ahead of them.


2. Steppin Out With My Baby

A happy little number, 'Steppin Out With My Baby' moves a bit more quickly than 'Boston In The Rain', keeping an upbeat pace throughout. The lyrics bring to mind movies that show the culture of 1920's New York City, with glamorous depictions of the well-to-do heading out for a night on the town. Originally composed by Irving Berlin, 'Steppin Out With My Baby' is a short song, but a good one; and it's covered smoothly here.


3. Let's Misbehave

Moving at a slower pace than the previous song, 'Let's Misbehave' is a ballad that has a very relaxed tone and catchy melody. Again, I have to marvel at the way the band is able to effortlessly combine the spirits of two very different eras in their music. I really enjoyed the bass here, as it added a stable foundation for the rest of the song by contributing a quiet yet entertaining background melody of its own. I hope that Julian and company decide to feature more original songs on their next outing, as this cover of 'Let's Misbehave' by Cole Porter shows their great potential for success in the future, and leaves me thinking of how they will further show their talent as they create more of their own songs.


4. You Took Advantage Of Me

Beginning with some fancy piano playing, the fourth song on Old New Borrowed Blue tells a slightly funny story of a man who falls in love, even though he realizes he's only being used. Other than the piano playing, the melody is fairly basic, and nothing about it stood out to me as being particularly notable. Although I'm not really fond of this song, the version on this album isn't bad, and Julian's voice complements the tune nicely. 'You Took Advantage Of Me' was originally composed by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers.


5. Everytime We Say Goodbye

A sad ballad that is beautifully done, 'Everytime We Say Goodbye' has to be my favorite song on this album. The melody here is captivating and the creative lyrics accentuate it very well, flowing with the sound and providing a sort of 'anchor' for the song, drawing the listener in and making it hard to separate from the music. The band really shines here, once again employing their unique blend of old and new musical styles, sounding as if they were out of another time. 'Everytime We Say Goodbye' is an excellent song, and one of the highlights of the album. Cole Porter would be proud.


6. Blue Skies

A great cover of Irving Berlin's classic! 'Blue Skies' shows that the band can perform songs in all sorts of categories; from slow ballads such as 'Let's Misbehave' or 'Everytime We Say Goodbye' to mid-paced songs like 'Boston In The Rain', as well as quick, lively songs such as this one. A wild drumming pattern by Kevin Dorn opens this track, keeping an upbeat mood throughout the song while demonstrating the skill of the performers at the same time. The listener might not think it was in them at first, from hearing the first five tracks; but any doubts about their musical versatility are erased as soon as this one begins. 'Blue Skies' clearly is an eye-opener to the potential within this group, and they perform the song exceptionally well.


7. Stompin' At The Savoy

'Stompin' At The Savoy' showcases Julian's relaxing and memorable vocal styling as well as the bass player, Jon Flaugher's skill, which is exhibited all throughout this song, both when harmonizing with the piano and as he plays his own melodies separately. However, the volume of the bass is one of my main complaints; it is difficult to hear at times, and I think it should have been mixed just a little louder. Edgar Sampson and Andy Razaf were the original composers of this song, but you wouldn't really know it by listening, as the band does such a good job of performing it and adding in their own flair that they make it their own.


8. That Old Black Magic

The pop standard 'That Old Black Magic' by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer receives a unique touch from Julian, as his voice croons in a manner that reminds one slightly of Frank Sinatra. Definitely a more romantic song, 'That Old Black Magic' begins in a quiet and reserved tone, building in intensity as it nears the middle, then getting a little softer at the end to close the song, all while retaining a sense of passion both in the vocals and the instrumentation. The band does a fantastic job with this cover, and makes it one of the best songs on the album.


9. Stand In Line

In contrast with the last song, 'Stand In Line' is a mid-paced song. Along with 'Boston In The Rain', 'Stand In Line' is an original composition by the band, and in my opinion sounds just as good as the classics they pay tribute to here. The piano player Jesse Gelber once again shows us his skill by performing an impressive 'solo' towards the middle. Despite the rather awkward vocal melody of the chorus, 'Stand In Line' is a solid song, and I'm really eager to hear what this group will come up with next.

10. Just One Of Those Things

Cole Porter's classic song gets re-energized by Julian, as he sings about a love affair that has come to an end. Along with 'Blue Skies', this is a fast-paced and lively song, relying on skillful piano playing and rhythmic drumming from Kevin Dorn to form the melody. I found myself liking this song more and more as I continued to listen, and it soon became one of my favorites. Julian's pitch varies widely here, going from high to mid range as he moves from verse to verse, again demonstrating his versatility. The only downside to this song is that it's very short, only clocking in at 1:47.


11. Fever

Julian's lower vocal range is displayed here in this cover of Otis Blackwell's hit song 'Fever', and it works like a charm, being very smooth and giving the song a slower, more romantic sound. In my opinion Julian sounds at his best during this song, especially on the chorus; better than Peggy Lee, I'd say. The drumming in this song gives it a feeling up building up as it moves toward a fantastic piano 'solo' by Jesse around 3 minutes in. This leads into the closing verses, which are really something to behold. This is a very impressive performance by all of the musicians, and not to mention a great song.


12. Satin Doll

After the jazzy serenade that was 'Fever' we have 'Satin Doll' to wrap up the album; a song originally by Duke Ellington that is covered well here by the band. It is very relaxed and fun throughout, with the melody reminding one slightly of a beach vacation. The rhythm of the drums is simple, but catchy, and fits the rest of the song perfectly, giving it a smooth, easygoing tone. As a way to end the album, 'Satin Doll' works well; giving the listener a light, melodious tune that is very pleasant to listen to.


Pros:
Just as the title says, the band creates a very distinct sound by borrowing the techniques from older jazz acts, while using their own talent to effectively make it all sound new again. In their original songs, 'Boston In The Rain' and 'Stand In Line', they showcase this writing style, and the end result is very enjoyable.


Cons:
The bass was a little hard to hear, I would have liked if it had been slightly louder.


Overall: Recalling a sound that has been largely lost in popular music today, Julian pays homage to some great cabaret and jazz acts of the past while at the same time injecting a modern tone into songs like 'Fever' and 'Everytime We Say Goodbye', using this blend of styles to create his own unique sound. As the title says, some elements of the music are old, some are new, and some techniques are borrowed, but nothing is ever too similar; always retaining a talent and quality to them that identifies unmistakably as the music of Julian Yeo & Jesse Gelber. The songwriting, particularly in songs such as 'Boston In The Rain' and 'Stand In Line', does a wonderful job of harmonizing with Julian's lilting vocals, while providing catchy, intelligent melodies to accompany them. If you're in the mood for some upbeat, happy, and refreshing music, "Old New Borrowed Blue" is definitely one to look out for.

Val