Holly Yarbrough

What boy or girl didn’t want to be Mister Rogers’ neighbor? For some, like Holly Yarbrough, the desire never passed. Her first solo CD reimagines Fred Rogers’ songbook with a contemporary-jazz flare. Instead of creating a cheesy cover album, she succeeds in enriching the life lessons of the original songs through a mature perspective. With an adult eye, platonic love songs take on a smoky, romantic tone and innuendos emerge from the lyrics. However, Yarbrough never crosses into inappropriate territory because she treats the original material with respect. “I’m Taking Care of You” is a haunting thank you to Fred Rogers for a childhood filled with love. When she sings “For once I was very little, too / Now I take care of you,” it’s a promise to remember that she’ll always be his neighbor.