Local Spins
Sally Jo Bannow
‘So Nice to Come Home to...’

Sally Jo Bannow sings with a Mary Poppins’ kind of sweetness while covering classics by artists such as John Lennon, Cole Porter and various others on her latest album. She vocalizes with passion and often brings a whimsical feel to the songs while accompanied by piano. In fact, it’s almost as if she’s performing these songs in some kind of elaborate theatre production in which she is the shining star. Bannow is at her strongest on tracks like “Over the Rainbow” and “Orange Colored Sky.” Though the album, which is composed of 15 covers, oozes with a sugary sweetness, it’s lacking original music by Bannow. B+

Next show: Nothing scheduled at this time.
Website: www.sallyjobannow.com.

— by Kelly Wilson, Get Out

Monte Procopio
‘Swingin’ With Style’

It takes a lot of chutzpah to record a CD full of popular standards made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett. After all, what can a vocalist do to improve on a song after it has been belted out by the best? As heard on “Swingin’ With Style,” Monte Procopio’s pipes are up to the challenge, delivering such classics as “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Unforgettable” and “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” with a crystal-clear croon and impeccable phrasing that elevates him miles above mere Vegas-style imitators.

Although the material here has been recorded by countless artists over the years — the songlist reads like a “Rat Pack's Greatest Hits” package — the hip swing arrangements and Procopio's suave delivery will have everyone from older trad-pop fans to the new swing-set generation reaching for their martini shakers. B

Next show: 8 p.m. Friday at A League of Our Own, 40 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, . Free at the bar; $5 in the supper club.
Web site: www.monteprocopio.com

— by Chris Holly, Get Out

Laura Sawosko
‘Piecing It Together’

My first instinct was to compare Laura Sawosko to Norah Jones or former Mazzy Star vocalist Hope Sandoval. However, on second listen, I quickly realized her attitude is more of a defiant, rebellious, fun-loving womanchild. She is more easily likened to a quirky, but intelligent, coffeeshop folk singer, like the women she names in “Misfits”: “Ani and Tori, Alanis, Tracy and Dar.”

The spirit of her album is one of newly accepted independence and learning about love. Although some tunes push the envelope between waxing nostalgic and getting straight up sappy, (“Underdog” and “Playmate” are both reflections on youth and “Never Compromised Me” is a statement to the artist’s parents), the songwriting is solid and Sawosko’s sweet whisper-to-wail voice carries them with strength. On “Never Compromised Me” she sings, “Don’t know when it was/I stopped climbing trees/Maybe that’s when/I first lost me.” Most tracks are similarly personal and rife with soul-searching. B

Next show: 9 p.m. Saturday at Paisley Violin European Cafe, 128 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, . Free.
Web site: www.laurasawosko.com

— by Jenna Duncan, Get Out

Seven Oceans
‘Perfect Day’

A soundtrack to a sun-splashed Sunday afternoon, Seven Ocean’s debut effort is almost as impeccable as its title implies.

Singer/songwriters Robert Lang and Andrew Bailey trade lead vocals over mostly acoustic jazz/pop that is languorous and luxurious. The mood is mellow and the lyrics are coffeehouse poetic although sometimes a little too earnest — the words “bestest friend” should never escape the lips of an adult. The only serious misstep here is a doozy as Bailey tumbles off a cliff when he tries rapping on “Queen of the Nile.”

The awkward and abysmal tune sticks out like a sore thumb on the otherwise placid album and listening to it is as painful as that same thumb being whacked by a hammer. Overall, Seven Oceans sound best when they're not sailing uncharted waters, but sticking to their original course. B

Next show: 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Xtreme Bean Coffee Company, 1707 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, . Free.
Web site: www.sevenoceans.ws

— by Thomas Bond, Get Out