Local CD Pick: Judy Philbin

JUDY PHILBIN — ‘CANDLE IN THE WINDOW’

Having performed at emotional grief support events for the past 15 years, Judy Philbin knows a thing or two about the healing power of music. This collection of songs (nine covers, one original) is an ideal gift, she says, for someone experiencing a recent loss or celebrating an anniversary or birthday of a deceased loved one. And of course, its songs about loss and remembrance make it ideal for Memorial Day. Philbin’s soft, jazzy voice carries covers like Smokey Robinson’s “Really Gonna Miss You” and Chris de Burgh’s “Carry Me (Like a Fire in Your Heart).” And she includes a touching original, the title song. These somber songs won’t cheer you up — they’re more likely to make you cry. But crying is crucial to grieving, so this album is like therapy.

— Patrick S. Pemberton