Maia Sharp has been missing in action since releasing a fine debut album Hardly Glamour back in 1997.  The record got deserved attention at triple-A radio, but the 1999 follow-up Tinderbox was lost in the shuffle when her former record label Ark-21 was swallowed up by Polygram soon before its release date. 

She has finally resurfaced on Concord, a label better known for Jazz artists. Three songs have been rescued from the Tinderbox project, the rest have been written by the artist while gigging and recording since. 

It should be no surprise that Sharp is a wicked songwriter, she's the daughter of long-time Music Row hit tunesmith Randy Sharp (who co-wrote the evocative album opener "Crimes of the Witness.")  But the real surprise here is how much she has grown as a performer and producer since her already impressive debut. 

Musically and vocally Maia Sharp has the folk-rock confessional strength of Interiors-era Rosanne Cash or Shawn Colvin circa Fat City.  She is fearless in following her muse, no matter where it leads her. 

For example, "Happiness" is a terrific song that is blasted into the heavens by an adventurous neo-ragtime banjo interlude that gives the song the feel of a classic song you've known all your life.  Other lovelies are the melancholy ballad "Understudies" and the modern rock vibe of "Crooked Crown." 

Sharp has apparently just finished a collaborative album with Art Garfunkel.  Thank goodness we won't have to wait five years to hear from her again.   (6/02)

Jay S. Jacobs