CDBaby Editors Pick! Smoky and eclectic, Tara takes you back to early era jazz, and adds contemporary themes, poetic lyrics, and sassy hooks. To inspire her latest songwriting, Tara’s turntable spun constantly with Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Sarah Vaughan, Augustin Lara, and Irving Berlin. “I was inspired by the way lyrics told stories, and by the front and center melodies and hooks of 1930’s jazz. And lyrics were funny! There was more irony and tongue and cheek humor then.” With these vintage jazz sensibilities in mind, Tara set out to write a stomp (“Recession Stomp”), swing (“Rumor Mill Swing”), and jazz ballads for her fourth CD, Torch and Sass. Tara set out to explore Torch as a genre. Everyone knows the old torch lament sung by a woman, who stays up all night drinking coffee, waiting for her man to come home. But for Tara, torch sensibilities fit well into current themes: “feeling helpless about things we can’t affect, like earthquakes and tsunamis,” ("Flux and Flow" was written following the 2011 Japanese tsunami); or sudden remorse ("Little Miss Remiss" tells of a girl who realizes how hurtful her unthinking actions can be). But Torch and Sass, doesn’t only salute the past; Tara adds contemporary jazz shuffles, tangos and even an Indian jazz tigress tune to the mix. Tara Linda’s 2010 release Tortilla Western Serenade charted in the top 20 on the national RMR, FAR, and Euro-Americana charts with radio airplay on 300 stations in 15 countries; named “FAR and Away Best Debut Albums” of 2010 (Freeform American Roots Chart, Austin TX). Tara Linda lives in Oakland, CA and will release her CD at the famed Yoshi's Oakland with her band The Rumor Mill. Produced by Billy Stull & Tara Linda All music, lyrics and arrangements by Tara Linda © 2012 Tara Linda Physalia Records (BMI) except #1 music by Tara Linda & Jose Alvarez (Mexifi Music BMI), #5 music by Tara Linda and Paul Eastburn (ASCAP) and #10 horn arrangements by Charles Hearn. Musicians Zeke Aguilar – piano (2-5, 7, 10, 12); alto sax (5, 11); back up vocals (6) / Jose Alvarez – guitar (1) / Paul Eastburn – bass (5, 10-12) / Ron Guensche – bass (1). Ron Harrington – bass (2-4, 7, 9) / Charles Hearn – tenor sax (2, 3, 5-7, 10, 12); soprano sax (11); back up vocals (6) / Jeff Hobbs – violin (9) / Rafael Herrera – drums (1, 6, 8) / Rudy Ruffelsen – drums (2-5, 7, 9, 10, 12) / Az Samad – acoustic guitar (2-4, 6-9, 13); electric guitar (8) / Noe Sanchez – trumpet (2-3, 5-7, 10) Jesse Sheehan – tablas (11) / Steven Strauss – soprano ukulele (6); bass (6) / Tara Linda – voice (all); accordion (9); baritone ukulele (2,13); bass (8). Mixed by Charlie Barrego. Gospa Records (McAllen, TX). Mastered by Billy Stull. Masterpiece Mastering (South Padre Island, TX). Recorded at: Gospa Records (McAllen, TX). Engineer- Charlie Barrego: Songs # 2-5, 7, 9-13. New Vintage Studios (Oakland, CA). Engineer- Ron Guensch: Songs #1, 5, 6, 8, 10-12. Wally Sound (Oakland, CA). Song #8.