‘The Last Day of Winter’
George Usher & Lisa Burns (self-released)
4 stars out of 5
Big Apple-based singer/songwriters George Usher and Lisa Burns have been fixtures on the New York music scene since the early 1980s and late 1970s, respectively. It took them decades to record together, but the resulting album, “The Last Day of Winter,” proves well worth the wait … and has me hoping that they’ll team up again in the very near future.
Unable to use his hands or play any musical instruments for more than two years while undergoing chemotherapy treatments, Usher wrote the lyrics for the songs that became “The Last Day of Winter.” Burns took Usher’s words and set them to music and the duo eventually hit the studio and made magic together.
There are elements of pop, country and folk on the 12-track release as Usher and Burns trade lead vocals throughout. There isn’t a bad song in the bunch, with the duo shining brightest on “Wake Me When Tomorrow’s Here,” “More Than That I Cannot Say,” “Lost in Translation,” “Dark Blue Room,” “The World That Rested on Your Word” and the set-closing title track. Do yourself a favor and track down a copy of “The Last Day of Winter.” You won’t regret it. (Jeffrey Sisk)
Pittsburgh In Tune 