Bridgette Perdue
Enjoy This Moment
(Self-released)
Upbeat and sometimes tender piano-pop tunes from the relative newcomer. Perdue's strong voice makes the album a pleasant listen; the tunes are heartfelt and catchy. Lyrically, it gets cumbersome at times, as Perdue tries a little too hard. But on the whole, these are songs about love and longing, and they're relatable to plenty of us.— Andy Mulkerin BRIDGETTE PERDUE CD RELEASE. 7 p.m. Thu., Feb. 2. August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown. $5 (portion of proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Club).
Ash Dinosaur
Ash Dinosaur
(Self-released)
There are a lot of Dinosaur-named bands out there right now, and this one at times recalls the granddaddy of all Dinosaur-named indie-rock bands, in addition to other '90s guitar-band stalwarts, like Pavement. Good rock tunes, though the vocals are often lacking, even in comparison with the Mascises and Malkmuses of the world. Bonus points for closing out with tunes about fish fries and Breezewood. — Andy Mulkerin
Dave Brubeck Quartet
Their Last Time Out
(Sony)
Pittsburgh caught this last catchy session when the Quartet delivered its final gifts after ten years of memorable existence. The night after Christmas 1967, and all through the Statler-Hilton hall, people were stirring. Forty-four years later comes this two-CD package. Consider it worth the wait. Paul Desmond floats and wails with fresh, airy, boppish virtuosity, even finding near-Jerusalem inspiration in inevitable "Take 5." At the piano Brubeck sometimes stomps blues-like and sometimes sounds as if playing duets with himself, the right hand always knowing what the left is doing. Pittsburghers get their dues: Stephen Foster’s Swanee River surges on and Billy Strayhorn’s "Take The A Train" zooms express on the right track. Bassist Eugene Wright takes a romping solo in his own piece plus drummer Joe Morello has his own 6 and half minutes’ worth. The quartet split back then and the songs ended. But the memories linger on. — Gordon Spencer
