Cabaret Scenes Review

Welsh singer-songwriter Judith Owen is a true enigma. With a history of severe depression and trauma throughout her lifetime, her therapeutic approach and healing is through her music, billowing out like puffs of smoke from the deepest recesses. Her contemporary writing style and vocal technique are a combination jazz-folk-rock as she unleashes her emotional tide, accompanying herself at the piano. Her performance can be mesmerizing at times, blessed with a voice that flows easily up, down, around and through the musical notes. But the depth of sorrow is ever present in her lyric.

As a fine storyteller, we become privy to all her personal emotional tragedies. “Shine,” a song of yearning, is about her sister who ran away to find her own way to be noticed in a family where opera singer Father and music became the bond between him and Judith. The lyric, "why don’t you just let me shine my own damn way," is filled with sadness. “Enough,” a song about addiction (to anything), was delivered as a stream of consciousness at the right moment, as Owen continued referencing the need for sound adjustments and the ringing in her monitor.

Growing up on an Island named “Blighty,” where it was cold, damp and people were prone to consumption, was fodder for this song that had a Beatles-like feel. When a friend married a cheating man, it inspired “Who’s That Girl,” with the lyric, "She was a girl who loved drama. Today she’s just moppin’ up Karma." The change from accompanying herself to standing at the mic for “Cry Me A River,” seemed too theatrical in comparison.

Judith Owen has had more than her fair share of heartache and heartbreak in her 42 years, including a mother who committed suicide. She has endured much and it flows unrestrained from her soul through her fingers and amazing fluid vocal instrument. Through “My Father’s Voice” her "sadness lost its will."

Her musicians thru March 28^th are Harry Shearer, bass and Dave Mattacks, drums/percussion. April 2 – 4 shows will present other musicians.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
March 26, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org



	Judith Owen Metropolitan Room New York, NY
Welsh singer-songwriter Judith Owen is a true enigma. With a history of severe depression and trauma throughout her lifetime, her therapeutic approach and healing is through her music, billowing out like puffs of smoke from the deepest recesses. Her contemporary writing style and vocal technique are a combination jazz-folk-rock as she unleashes her emotional tide, accompanying herself at the piano. Her performance can be mesmerizing at times, blessed with a voice that flows easily up, down, around and through the musical notes. But the depth of sorrow is ever present in her lyric. As a fine storyteller, we become privy to all her personal emotional tragedies. “Shine,” a song of yearning, is about her sister who ran away to find her own way to be noticed in a family where opera singer Father and music became the bond between him and Judith. The lyric, "why don’t you just let me shine my own damn way," is filled with sadness. “Enough,” a song about addiction (to anything), was delivered as a stream of consciousness at the right moment, as Owen continued referencing the need for sound adjustments and the ringing in her monitor. Growing up on an Island named “Blighty,” where it was cold, damp and people were prone to consumption, was fodder for this song that had a Beatles-like feel. When a friend married a cheating man, it inspired “Who’s That Girl,” with the lyric, "She was a girl who loved drama. Today she’s just moppin’ up Karma." The change from accompanying herself to standing at the mic for “Cry Me A River,” seemed too theatrical in comparison. Judith Owen has had more than her fair share of heartache and heartbreak in her 42 years, including a mother who committed suicide. She has endured much and it flows unrestrained from her soul through her fingers and amazing fluid vocal instrument. Through “My Father’s Voice” her "sadness lost its will." Her musicians thru March 28^th are Harry Shearer, bass and Dave Mattacks, drums/percussion. April 2 – 4 shows will present other musicians. Sandi Durell Cabaret Scenes March 26, 2009 www.cabaretscenes.org

Judith Owen

Metropolitan RoomNew York, NY

Metropolitan Room
New York, NY