From the fun and lighthearted to sad, lonely introspection,
Monkey made it clear that
Trisha Pope was hardly one-dimensional. The charming jazz singer draws on influences ranging from
Sheila Jordan to
Annie Ross, although she has a cleaner, less gritty approach than either of them. Pope's more fun and playful side asserts itself on "If I Had Rhythm in My Nursery Rhymes" and her own "Dragons & Witches," both of which are a long way from the rueful, unhappy ballad singing of "Angel Eyes" and "Black Coffee."
Pope is a fine ballad singer, but the angular title song demonstrates that she's equally comfortable with sax-like blowing at a fast tempo. Recorded in Montreal in 1990 and released by the Canadian Duke Street label, this CD made it to American stores as an import.