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Georgia Stitt: My Lifelong Love [Sh-K-Boom 8-3337]
I was enthused when I first heard the work of composer-lyricist Georgia Stitt back in 2007, with the release of her debut CD "This Ordinary Thursday: The Songs of Georgia Stitt" [PS Classics PS-748]. (My review can be found here.) Here was a new songwriter — new to me, at least — turning out one good song after another. I was further intrigued with Stitt's work on the mini-album "Alphabet City Cycle" [PS Classics PS-978], set to lyrics by Marcy Heisler (who is better known for her work with Zina Goldrich).

So I suppose I must say that I am pleased but not surprised by Stitt's newest offering, "My Lifelong Love." Here is another collection of intriguing, intelligent, well-crafted songs. Stitt has been working in musical theatre for some time now; I have yet to come across any of her musicals, but this is a writer who appears to be ready. Stitt also seems an unusual sort of collaborator: these 13 songs include six by Stitt alone (including one each set to poems by Shakespeare and Dorothy Parker); four by composer Stitt with other lyricists; and three which lyricist Stitt wrote with other composers. At this stage, I'm not familiar enough with the songs in "This Ordinary Thursday" and "My Lifelong Love" to tell which combination, if any, is the stronger. I suppose Stitt simply works where opportunity leads.

I'll add to that list of favorites two songs that have been recorded elsewhere. "The Wanting of You," from "Alphabet City Cycle," is here sung by Susan Egan. And then there's "Invested in You," with music by Sam Davis (which was also included on Davis' CD collection, "Love on a Summer Afternoon"). Here it is sung by Jessica Molaskey and John Pizzarelli; the latter provides accompaniment on guitar, ukulele and bass. (Pizzarelli obviously laid down the tracks separately; I only mention this because he's the sort of intrepid showman who — under certain circumstances — might insist on playing all three at once while simultaneously singing and telling enigmatic jokes while Jessica raises her eyebrows and ruefully shakes her head.) I seem to recall having heard the Pizzarellis doing this song live somewhere, perhaps at the Carlyle. It is a triple treat, one part coming from the writers, one from the singers, and the other from the instrumentalists — all named John Pizzarelli.

Heard on other tracks are Brian d'Arcy James, Shoshana Bean, Laura Osnes, Michael Arden, Christopher Jackson, Michael McElroy and Kate Baldwin (who previously recorded the "Alphabet City" song cycle).

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