Joy Askew

Joy Askew - Tender City - 1996 - Private Music

"blends a deep soul with lyrics of abstract love and exile....a voice like bone china, Askew can do big ballads, but, unlike Celine Dion or dog-whistly Mariah Carey, she sends them off-kilter, turning songs into soundscapes and surreal excursions..." © Q Magazine (09/01/1996)

Excellent album, and HR by A.O.O.F.C. The album is a slow burner. After a few listens it all comes together, and the songs start to grow on you. Joy Askew has a beautiful voice. The album has some wonderful melodies, and she is backed by some top notch musicians, including Peter Gabriel, Larry Fast, Chris Botti, Jerry Marotta, Larry Klein and more! Joy Askew has played keyboards on some of Joe Jackson's great albums, and she has toured with Peter Gabriel. She contributed vocals to Rosie Vela's great 1986 "Zazu" album, which was produced by the great Gary Katz, and featured Walter Becker and Donald Fagen. A lady of considerable talent. Check out her great "Echo/Echo" album with Takuya Nakamura, a cool, sensual fusion of vocal jazz and downtempo electronic grooves.

TRACK DETAILS / COMPOSERS

1.Corrinne (4:37) - Joy Askew, Shane Fontayne, David Conrad
2.I'm Still Looking For A Home (5:04) - Joy Askew
Backing Vocals - Curtis King , Everett Bradley , Marlin Saunders
Vocals - Peter Gabriel
3.Big Sky (5:58) - Joy Askew, Shane Fontayne
4.A World So Rare (4:44) - Joy Askew, Shane Fontayne
Trumpet - Chris Botti
5.Little Darling (3:47) - Joy Askew
Bass - Larry Klein
Cymbal - Jerry Marotta
Guitar - Gregg Liesz*
6.Cool Water (5:13) - Joy Askew, Shane Fontayne
Cymbal - Shawn Pelton
Pedal Steel - Shane Fontayne
Trumpet - Chris Botti
7.Tender City (4:59) - Joy Askew, Shane Fontayne
Drums - Jerry Marotta
Strings - Jane Scarpantoni , Larry Fast , Matthew Pierce
8.Strangebird (4:42) - Joy Askew
Guitar - Shane Fontayne
Percussion - Shawn Pelton
9.From The Lips Of The One I Love (5:37) - Joy Askew, Shane Fontayne
Programming [Drums] - Shane Fontayne
10.This Ring (5:11) - Joy Askew
E-bow, Harmonium [Indian] - Chris Cunningham
Guitar - John Holbrook , Leni Stern , Shane Fontayne
11.I Could Be Dancing (4:02) - Joy Askew, Shane Fontayne
Cello - Michelle Kinney
Drums - Jerry Marotta
Strings - Jane Scarpantoni , Matthew Pierce
12.Hands Tied Tongues Tied (4:59) - Joy Askew
Choir, Drums - Sleeping Beauties, The

CREDITS

Peter Gabriel (Vocals), Leni Stern (Guitar (Acoustic)), Paul F. Antonelli (Engineer), Joy Askew (Organ), Joy Askew (Synthesizer), Joy Askew (Guitar (Acoustic)), Joy Askew (Piano), Joy Askew (Keyboards), Joy Askew (Organ (Hammond)), Joy Askew (Vocals), Joy Askew (Vocals (Background)), Joy Askew (Choir, Chorus), Joy Askew (Producer), Joy Askew (Engineer), Joy Askew (Percus), Joy Askew (Sampling), Joy Askew (Main Performer), Joy Askew (Korg Synthesizer), Joy Askew (Drum Programming), Joy Askew (Drum Loop), Joy Askew (Percussion Programming), Joe Bonadio (Percussion), Joe Bonadio (Triangle), Joe Bonadio (Shaker), Chris Botti (Trumpet), Everett Bradley (Vocals (Background)), Larry Fast (Mellotron), Shane Fontayne (Guitar (Acoustic)), Shane Fontayne (Bass), Shane Fontayne (Guitar), Shane Fontayne (Pedal Steel), Shane Fontayne (Guitar (Bass)), Shane Fontayne (Guitar (Electric)), Shane Fontayne (Vocals), Shane Fontayne (Vocals (Background)), Shane Fontayne (Choir, Chorus), Shane Fontayne (Producer), Shane Fontayne, Shane Fontayne (Drum Programming), Shane Fontayne (Drones), Bernie Grundman (Mastering), John Holbrook (Guitar (Acoustic)), John Holbrook (Engineer), John Holbrook (Mixing), Kevin Jenkins (Bass), Kevin Jenkins (Guitar (Bass)), Curtis King (Vocals (Background)), Larry Klein (Bass), Larry Klein (Guitar (Bass)), Greg Leisz (Slide Guitar), Jerry Marotta (Percussion), Jerry Marotta (Cymbals), Jerry Marotta (Drums), Jerry Marotta, Shawn Pelton (Cymbals), Shawn Pelton (Drums), Shawn Pelton, Shawn Pelton (Brushes), Mike Shipley (Mixing), Oliver Strauss (Engineer), Leanne Ungar (Engineer), Michelle Kinney (Cello), Jane Scarpantoni (Strings), Jane Scarpantoni (Arranger), Jane Scarpantoni (Cello), Jane Scarpantoni (String Arrangements), Jennifer Cohen (Art Direction), Marlon Saunders (Vocals (Background)), John Ewing, Jr. (Assistant Engineer), Paul Antonell (Engineer), James McIlvery (Mixing Assistant), Glen Erler (Photography), Melanie Penny (Art Direction), Todd Bos (Engineer), Matthew Pierce (Strings), Sleeping Beauties (Drums), Sleeping Beauties (Choir, Chorus), Chris Cunningham (Guitar (Acoustic)), Chris Cunningham (Guitar (Rhythm)), Chris Cunningham (Harmonium), Chris Cunningham (Ebo), Chris Cunningham (E-Bow)

REVIEW

Putting her career as a sidewoman aside, the talented Joy Askew stepped out on her own with the 1996 release Tender City. Producing herself as well as handling keyboard chores, Askew created a full album with percolating world rhythms, confessional lyrics, and her own gorgeous voice. Obvious comparisons could be made to Kate Bush, especially on the lovely piano ballad "Little Darling," but Tender City is a memorable release in its own right. "I'm Still Looking for a Home" is built around a drum loop and features guest vocals by Peter Gabriel. The ethereal, sparse arrangement of "Cool Water" allows Askew room to showcase her crystal-clear voice, and she pulls off some impressive vocal gymnastics on the rhythmic opener, "Corrinne." "Strangebird" is a slinky, funky number, while e-bow and Indian harmonium -- courtesy of Chris Cunningham -- add to the wistful tale of an immigrant's memory on "This Ring." Solid all the way through the gospel choir at the end of the closing "Hands Tied Tongue Tied," Tender City is a rare album where repeated listens reveal new treasures. © Tom Demalon, All Music Guide

BIO

Vocalist Joy Askew recorded much of her debut for Private Music/BMG, Tender City, in her home studio. She had no idea at the time that her tracks would be the foundation for her first solo album. But Askew, a veteran vocalist and sidewoman singer to performers as varied as Joe Jackson, Peter Gabriel, Laurie Anderson and Rodney Crowell, agreed with the record executives' assessment that it was time for her to step into the limelight. Aside from her work as a touring vocalist with these artists, she's also recorded with Phoebe Snow and Jules Shear, among others. Askew was born and raised in northern England. After many years there, she moved to New York City in 1982. She played keyboards and sang with a group, Eye To Eye, signed to Warner Bros. Shortly after her arrival, she answered a call from Joe Jackson, who was looking for a keyboard player and singer for his "Night and Day" world tour. Askew later joined Laurie Anderson's 1984 "Mr. Heartbreak" tour. Askew's keyboard treatments can be heard on Jackson's albums Big World, Blaze of Glory and Laughter and Lust. Perhaps the reason Askew's debut for Private Music/BMG sounds so fresh and innovative is because Askew doesn't write songs in the conventional way. She hears a musical mood first, and then puts lyrics to what she's hearing. She doesn't latch on to phrases or chorus until she's fleshed out the melody in her head first. After touring with Peter Gabriel for a world tour, she left the tour in the summer of 1993 and formed her own band, signing up guitarist Shane Fontayne, percussionist Joe Bonadio and guitarist Chris Cunningham. Cunningham's playing adds the Mediterranean melodies to several tracks on Tender City. Also performing on her debut album are bassist Larry Klein and drummer Jerry Marotta. On Tender City, Askew is joined by her former boss Gabriel, who contributes harmony vocals on "I'm Just Looking For A Home.'' Gabriel recorded the backing vocals from his chalet in France while Askew, based in New York City, continued fine-tuning the other tracks on the album. Tender City was produced by Askew, who also plays keyboards, in her home studio. The raw tapes were later transferred to 24-track in a proper mastering studio. © Richard Skelly, All Music Guide