Cara Jean Wahlers and Grover Parido
Goodnight Charlotte
Akron, OH
“The essence of summer nights”
Cello, guitar and that melodic voice – the sum of all of the parts makes the whole infinitely more beautiful than could be expected. Cara Jean Wahlers and Grover Parido’s Goodnight, Charlotte is an album of lullabies and loves songs. A lack of drums allows the music to flow seamlessly from one song to the next, each a memorable collaboration between Parido and Wahlers. No artist takes precedence over the other, evident in the unique blend of Parido’s instrumental solos and Wahlers’ rich melodies.
Wahlers’ lyrics invoke wistful imagery and lethargic summer nights; fireflies and butterflies abound in her world. She shares her stories with no-frills vocals; belting isn’t necessary here. Her voice bounces with a slight Irish tilt on “Orange Blossoms,” which also features a beautifully simple string introduction. A quirky tale of lost opportunities fades to heartfelt alleluias on “Angels.” An appreciation of Parido’s classically influenced cello only makes this album more enjoyable, but anyone open to simple and beautiful arrangements will find themselves dreaming of Goodnight, Charlotte. (Self-released)
-Maureen McDermott