Artist description "...Where other piano goddesses like Tori Amos and Fiona Apple keep the piano front and center, Court's piano works more as the backbone..." (review) Ummm, don't know about the goddess thing, but thanks to my new Kawai MP9000 I'm no longer an ivory towered studiohead - have piano, will travel.

Musical Influences Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Peter Gabriel, Jane Siberry, David Bowie, Jethro Tull, Crash Test Dummies, Beethoven, Gershwin, Danny Elfman

Similar Artists Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, Happy Rhodes... an Elfman, a Gabriel, a Bowie

Artist History Susan Court loves to put the cart before the horse. Where most musicians faithfully follow the Wisdom of the Ages (tour and get noticed), Susan's approach was to save up her pennies, hole herself up in the studio, gather talented people around her, tell her story, and finally shove it all into a glossy, retail-ready package for posterity. "I've always thought of this CD as a scrapbook that I would give myself years to hone and shape and get done the right way. I can only do one thing at a time, and so far it's been to document the best songs I can write. This whole process has been a personal victory, and I have a new respect for anyone who puts out their own recordings on par with the majors." Small wonder, then, that Susan titled her AAA folk-pop 1998 debut CD release "High Relief." Despite the lushness of the album, it translates very convincingly into solo piano/vocal format. That age-old specter of the tortured artist may not be dogging her lately, but "that just means I need to pay attention and keep that inner conflict at arm's length; otherwise there's no edge. But I've learned to tolerate happiness. It's a good thing to have on occasion."

Group Members Susan Court - vocals, piano. Joe Bichsel - cello. Tim Miller - percussion. BUT... the CD includes: Susan Court: Vocals, Keyboards.Jami Sieber: Cellos.John Morton: GuitarsMark Yeend: Percussion.Jonathan Burns: Electric Bass.Ted Kamp: Upright Bass.Garey Shelton: Fretless Bass.Tim Miller: additional percussion.Robert Puff: Recorder.Mary Lord: Lute.Music and Lyrics: Susan CourtEngineering / Mixing: Larz Nefzger, Tom HallAdditional Engineering: Mark Yeend, Steve Sherrard, Dave DysartProduced by Susan Court, Larz Nefzger and Tom HallVocals, Keyboards and Arrangements: Susan CourtRecorded and Mixed at Triad Studios in Redmond, WAand at Crosstown Studios in Seattle, WAMastered by Alan Yoshida at A&M Mastering Studiosin Hollywood, CA; thank you to CDS in Glendale, CAGraphics and Layout: Susan Court

Instruments (see Members)

Albums 1998 debut

Press Reviews 1) "Harping on the fact that Susan Court sounds like Kate Bush is about as pointless as purposefully dropping a ton of bricks on your toe. Why linger on the obvious? It is certainly true that... on first listen, Court is a dead ringer for the great leg-warmered one. But, closer inspection reveals that Susan Court has a few more tricks than just rehashed 'Cloudbursting.' ...Where other piano goddesses like Tori Amos and Fiona Apple keep the piano front and center, Court's piano works more as the backbone...Lyrically,... when she delves into the personal, as on the aching 'Between the Quiet,' it is pure magic."-Tizzy Asher, The Rocket (Seattle, WA). 2) Inclusion on The War Against Silence's "BEST OF 1998" and "BEST NEW ARTISTS" lists at www.furia.com - FOR MORE REVIEWS, see www.fundeling.com/reviews

Additional Info IMPORTANT NOTE: if you like these MP3's, do yourself a favor and buy the real thing (psst... the artwork is an integral part of the whole experience) so I can afford to give you more in the future! SUPPORT TRUE INDEPENDENT MUSICIANS!

Location Seattle, WA - USA

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