The sort of music contained on Mary Barry’s third release “Red Eye Tonight” will likely make you want to put it on in the late hours, turn off the lights, stare out your apartment window and light up a good few cigarettes. Since this particular writer despises cigarettes, this is an even greater compliment.
Simply pinning the music as “jazz” would be a mistake, despite that in itself known to be an honour. A large host of influences can be found here, but all the while the record maintains that dreamy cool atmosphere. This is one of the few albums where saying “it makes me feel like falling asleep” would be intended as genuine acclamation.
The piano flows along freely and wonderfully, the drums do just as little as they need to, and the brass, wind and percussion instruments add that delicious extra flavor, allowing the room for innovation. The vocals effortlessly switch between English and French at times, and it proves more than pleasant.
The almost miraculous aspect of “Red Eye Tonight” is in how the improvisational style often manages to sound intricately composed; this is how it succeeds as a masterful blend of countless different music and playing styles. The difference between “Red Eye Tonight” and other similar recordings is that it is not perfect. This however, is one of its greater strengths.
“Brasse Partout” stands out as probably the healthiest mix of all the record’s elements, while songs like “All I Need” and “Laura Nyro Passed Away Today” show the brighter and more somber sides of the album, respectively.
So aside from the awards, the competitions, the press releases, even, just know that Mary Barry is doing her thing, and is doing it beautifully and astonishingly well.
Though the album is available now, the CD release event will be held July 28 at Bianca’s, featuring Patrick Boyle, Rick Hollet, Brian Way, Josh Ward, and Gary Tilley. The restaurant’s website reads “the serenity of the atmosphere contributes to create a single experiment for all senses”. A perfect fit for Mary Barry.