Coming in August: " '60s Magic Now!: The Y-Verse"

'60s Magic Now!: The Y-Verse

New Soul-Jazz Versions of '60s Classics for Our Times

After seven critically acclaimed records and a recent poetry book/audiobook with original music, Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) is readying her eighth album: stunning soul-jazz covers of '60s classics that are newly relevant today. " '60s Magic Now!: The Y-Verse" appears in full August 2026! 

" '60s Magic Now!" is inspired by Lisa's ardent response to the repressive, regressive Trump administration and by her love for these songs. Her new versions resonate with the originals' more innocent calls for love and peace while infusing them with cutting-edge flavors. 

These fresh takes are boosted in four songs by new poetic raps — notably featuring the iconic hip-hop artist Lyrics Born on "Dear Mr. Fantasy." The era's frequent merging of soul, jazz, rock, and folk is reflected in expressive new arrangements.  

The seven tracks include songs spotlighting four magical characters (Spooky, Mr. Fantasy, Ruby Tuesday, and Windy), each figures of freedom in their own ways. Lisa also includes two anthems of the decade that passionately address our socially conscious responses together to changing times. A vocal-drum rap duet opens the record. 

All but one of the covered songs, Bob Dylan's call for civil rights action "The Times They Are A-Changin'," first came out in 1967. 

Why the Y-verse? Y exists just a step outside of our regular Universe. Y asks why. Y is a peace symbol. And each title covered in these moving re-visions has the letter Y in it.  

The song list:

- "The Times They Are A-Changin' " by Bob Dylan, released by Lisa B as a single on July 4, 2025

- "Spooky" by The Classics IV, released as a single by Lisa B on March 13, 2026

- "Dear Mr. Fantasy" by Traffic, written by Steve Winwood and others, to be released as a single featuring rapper Lyrics Born in July 2026

- "Ruby Tuesday" by the Rolling Stones 

- "Everybody Get Together" (aka "Let's Get Together") by The Youngbloods

- "Windy" by The Association 

- " '60s Magic Now!" by Lisa B and Jeff Marrs

Some Previous Takes on Lisa B's Music

“The freewheeling control of the raw materials that only the finest jazz practitioners possess... a true American original.” - Ted Panken, Downbeat critic 

 

“A pliable, expressive voice dipped in blue.” -  Jazz Times

 

“Funky, fresh and sexy as all hell...seamless blending of jazz, hip-hop, soul, spoken word and popular music... One of the most daring and deft performers I've come across in a while.” - Canadian Audiophile

SPECIAL SNEAK-PREVIEW SALE OF “DEAR MR. FANTASY”  

FEATURING HIP-HOP ICON LYRICS BORN!

available on this website only

(LB shown in return to Pajama Studios, Oakland, March 2026, with engineer James Gardiner)

Dear Mr. Fantasy

Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) featuring Lyrics Born

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This funky cover of Traffic's (Steve Winwood) classic features hip-hop icon Lyrics Born in the role of Mr. Fantasy. With his smooth virtuosity, LB expands rap swagger to include "helping to repair the human tapestry." It Read more

This funky cover of Traffic's (Steve Winwood) classic features hip-hop icon Lyrics Born in the role of Mr. Fantasy. With his smooth virtuosity, LB expands rap swagger to include "helping to repair the human tapestry." It was a full-circle moment for him to join Lisa B at Oakland's Pajama Studios, where Lyrics Born recorded most of his debut record "The Album" by Latyrx (1997) — with engineer Jim (James) Gardiner once again at the soundboard almost 3 decades later (see Gardiner reflected in the vocal booth window shown above while Lyrics Born lays down his rap and improvs). Lisa's new version and arrangement targets the fake vs. the real Mr. Fantasy — the charlatan destroyer vs. we the people unfurling a vision of personal and collective freedom. Joining the two LBs are Ben Flint on keyboards (who toured with Isaac Hayes for over a decade), Curtis Ohlson on bass (who cut his teeth in Ray Charles's band), guitarist Garth Webber (who played in the bands of Miles Davis, Gregg Allman, Boz Scaggs, and Bob Weir, among many others), and widely in-demand drummer Jeff Marrs.

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Spooky 

Revel in the magic spirit of Spooky in a new soul-jazz version of this classic ‘60s tune. It includes a rap written and performed by Lisa B in the imagined voice of the elusive, feisty, sexy Spooky herself. With Lisa both singing to the “spooky little girl” and personifying Spooky in a poetic reply, this new version can be heard as a queer celebration of female enchantment. The love object answers back. 
“I'm the world's biggest fan of the Classics IV '60s hit, but I love this dazzling new cover. Still sly and sexy, it really takes off with that inspired rap whizzing through a phosphorescent cosmos before landing right back on the soul-satisfying funky street corner. Only Lisa B could have made this!” - A Fan on YouTube

See the video here

Listen on your favorite music platform:

Apple Music

Tidal

You Tube Music

Pandora

Amazon

Spotify

 

Personnel

  • Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) - vocals and arrangement
  • Ben Flint - piano and arrangement
  • Curtis Ohlson - bass
  • Jeff Marrs - drums
  • James Gardiner, Pajama Studios, Oakland, Calif. - engineering, mastering 

Have this music at your fingertips and support Lisa B by downloading the track, below! 

Spooky

Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein)

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The Times They Are A-Changin' 

A soulful, jazzy rendition of Bob Dylan's great protest song “The Times They Are A-Changin'.” Both sensitive and rousing, the tune finds renewed relevance in this pivotal moment when democracy faces continual attacks – and all must “admit that the waters around you have grown.” Lisa B’s heartfelt vocal and lyrical interpretation shines within a swinging new arrangement by pianist Ben Flint and Lisa.

See the video here

Listen on your favorite music platform:

Apple Music

Tidal

You Tube Music

Pandora

Amazon

Spotify

 

Personnel

  • Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) - vocals and arrangement
  • Ben Flint - piano and arrangement
  • Curtis Ohlson - bass
  • Jeff Marrs - drums
  • Brent Sunderland - percussion
  • James Gardiner, Pajama Studios, Oakland, Calif. - engineering, mastering 

Radio: contact Lisa Reedy Promotions.

Have this music at your fingertips and support Lisa B by downloading the track, below! 

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein)

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LISA B'S NEW VIDEO for her passionate version of “The Times They Are A-Changin' ” connects the civil rights movement that inspired Dylan to release this tune (in the pivotal year of 1964) with resistance to the Trump administration's assault on civil rights and the needless aggressions of ICE. The video will inspire you and boost your energy!

Audiobook of "God in Her Ruffled Dress" with Music!

OUT NOW from 20+ Audiobook Vendors

The audiobook/spoken word poetry album version of God in Her Ruffled Dress (distributed by INaudio and Spotify for Authors to more than 20 global distributors) is available for purchase!

It includes new, original music by some of the Bay Area's best musicians along with recitations of every poem by Lisa, and even some singing. 

Go here for more info and links to purchase the audiobook and the paperback.

Two Most-Recent Albums

Raves for two most-recent records!

LISA B'S PREVIOUS FULL-LENGTH ALBUM, “REVERBERANT: POEMS & MUSIC” (released 2019): Performances with music of Lisa's  free-verse poems spiced with singing are joined by the theme of reverberation, from jazz stories to tales of spiritual self-realization. "Lisa Bernstein weaves a compelling series of musical narratives... featuring a wide variety of supporting players for her rich, deep, enchanting voice. Each listening reveals previously undiscovered depths of brilliant artistry and colorful storytelling." - Chris Cooke, KIOS-FM 

DOWNBEAT/JAZZIZ CRITIC TED PANKEN ON "I GET A KICK: COLE PORTER REIMAGINED" (rereleased 2026 on Lisa's Piece of Pie Records; originally released 2018 on Jazzed Media): "With the freewheeling control [of] only the finest jazz practitioners... B takes possession of Porter’s witty, poignant stories. She deploys her considerable interpretative vocal gifts...interpolating her own spoken word passages for an evocative multilayered effect... her encyclopedic knowledge of American music canons...luminous timbre and precise articulation...melds straight interpretation with pure imagination... inspired." - from the liner notes

Song Samples and Credits for Seven Albums

The Apple Music widgets below give a nice overview and samples of every music release from Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein), but if you prefer, go to the other music platforms shown in the menu. 

I Get A Kick: Cole Porter Reimagined was rereleased in 2026 on Lisa's label Piece of Pie Records; it was first released and distributed in 2018 by the Jazzed Media label. 

If buying a physical CD online, please go to Amazon and buy new, directly from either Amazon or CadNor Ltd. All other sellers provide no payment to Lisa B. Or you can always buy a signed copy directly from Lisa B. THANK YOU!

Musician Credits

(above, Jeff Marrs with Lisa at Pajama Studios, photo by Tina Abbaszadeh)

All records up to first four tracks of " '60s Magic Now!:"  Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein), sung and spoken verse, James (Jim) Gardiner, engineering and coproduction or production, at Pajama Studios, Oakland, Calif.

Dear Mr. Fantasy, Spooky (2026) and The Times They Are A-Changin' (2025) (singles from forthcoming album): Ben Flint (p), Curtis Ohlson (b), Jeff Marrs (d), Brent Sunderland (triangle on the latter)

God in Her Ruffled Dress audiobook (2024): Ben Flint (p), Gary Muszynski (handpan, perc), Brian Fishler (d), Brent Sunderland (perc)

Don't Touch Your Face (2020) (single not on any album yet): Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein), all vox parts on her phone (in response to initial phase of COVID), lyrics and music; James Gardiner, all instruments, music

Reverberant: Poems & Music (Oct. 2019): James Gardiner (multiple), Ben Flint and Scott R. Looney (p), Marcus Shelby (b), and Jeff Marrs (d) 

I Get A Kick: Cole Porter Reimagined (originally distributed by Jazzed Media 2018, rereleased on Lisa B's label Piece of Pie Records 2026): James Gardiner (multiple), Ben Flint and Frank Martin (p), Michael Zilber (sax), Fred Randolph and Troy Lampkins (b), Jeff Marrs, Alan Hall, and Paul van Wageningen (d), John Santos (perc) 

Christmas Time Is Here (and Chanukah and the Solstice) (2011): James Gardiner (multiple), Adam Shulman (p), John Wiitala (b), Alan Hall (d), Andre Bush (g), Anna Lissa Patterson (bg vox) 

The Poetry of Groove (2009): James Gardiner (multiple), Bob Mokarsky and Frank Martin (p), Dave Yamasaki (g), Rock Hendricks (sax), Troy Lampkins (b), Paul van Wageningen (d), Michael Spiro and John Santos (perc), Ashling Cole, Daria, Nikita Germaine, Sandy Griffith, Alice Peacock  (bg vox), James Richard (drum and bass) 

What's New, Pussycat? (2006): Frank Martin and Ben Flint (p), Danny Caron (g), Chris Amberger, Troy Lampkins, and John Shifflett (b), Paul van Wageningen and Alan Hall (d), John Santos (perc) 

Center of the Rhyme (2003): James Gardiner (multiple), Frank Martin (p), Mimi Fox and Dave Yamasaki (g), Tod DIckow (sax), Bill Douglass and Chris Amberger (b), Michael Spiro and Vince Delgado (perc), Daria (bg vox) 

Free Me for the Joy (1999): James Gardiner (multiple), Lisa B (Lisa Bernstein) (p), Dave Yamasaki (g), Rock Hendricks (sax),  Curtis Ohlson and Frank Thibeaux (b), Marcus Biddle and John Santos (perc), Sandy Cressman, Nikita Germaine, Sandy Griffith, Alice Peacock, and Lisa B (bg vox),  James Richard (drum and bass) 

Crowdfunding Thanks

Deepest gratitude

Crowdfunding supporters for "I Get A Kick: Cole Porter Reimagined" (2018)

When Lisa got a distribution deal with the esteemed Jazzed Media label, home of many Grammy nominees, for "I Get A Kick: Cole Porter Reimagined," these folks generously rallied to provide promotion support:

THANK YOU

A Fan

Aaron Arnold

Anna Holden

Anne M. Murphy

Anonymous (11)

Batshira

Becky Wenger

Brent Sunderland

Carmela Rappazzo

Carmen Figueras

Catherine Debon

Cathy Puccinelli

Craig

Daria! Vocalist

David Barker

Deborah DeHoff

Debra J Davies

Dick Cluster

Edythemiller

Eric C Nee

Evelyn Bernstein

Gina Atton Thomas

Happy Supporter

Heather Gardner

Helayne Waldman

Jean Ross

Jenifer Bacon

Jeremy D Crowe

Jerzy Chodak

John G Doran

John Koudela III

Jonathan Schwartz

Katherine Silver

Kathlene Casey

Kristen Caven

Lenore Weiss

Lmmehalic

Maggie Stogner

Mark Eley

Mark Pritchard

Matthew Hughes

Mike Hamm

MZ

Nick Mastick

Norma Blase Perelstein

Peter Dean & Olga Pappas

Philippa Wright

Pklasky

Rich Yurman

Sherri

Sokol Zace

Steve Sajadi

Sue Ann Van Epps

Tim Gnazale

Veopatra

Vicki Burns