Franny is funny. Franny is fervent. Franny is fizzy with a fuzzy, warm voice. You might react to her matter-of-fact presentations on As Is as if she were an old friend cozying up to you, with her tales and troubles and tender teasing with whispers and sass. The vocals are not pristinely pure, showing some life-logged mileage, as is suggested by the title, perhaps a disclaimer (which reminds me of the scrawled “AS IS!” warning on many LPs I bought at second-hand shops to build my record collection). Despite some rougher patches, personality prevails over problematic notes: Warts and all, take it or leave it. I’m taking to Franny more and more, and came to leave this on repeat play. Now I notice more the zip and sweetness that come through, the way the great music still came through on my old, scratchy vinyl despite those annoying clicks and pops.

Franny, once a back-up singer for Bette Midler, reminds one of the better Bette qualities—an ability to be direct, deliciously entertaining, decidedly earthy and unpretentious with a big, vulnerable heart evident on ballads—all in an instrument that is more coated with whiskey than refined honey. Songs here span genres: classic ballad (“Midnight Sun”); pop; comic specialties; riding the “Wave” of Jobim bossa nova. Half of the fourteen songs were written/co-written by old-timer Howlett “Smitty” Smith, also leading the trio as pianist. All are sung with affection and flair, one—“Tell Me Tonight”—a duet with Smith’s raspy but enthusiastic vocals. Selections with spice and spunk come off best, while a few “straight” don’t land as well. “Besame Mucho,” however, is mucho good stuff. An attractive optimism shines through throughout the CD and, if some Franny moments seem a bit Fran-tic rather than Fran-tastically perfect, it’s often worth the trade-off, with that likeable persona bringing out the gist and the joy.

Rob Lester
Cabaret Scenes
October 2010
www.cabaretscenes.org