This CD is so delightful that I played it twice straight off! Joni Mitchell songs lend themselves easily to jazz but Ms Colman's versions are very much her own, with added influences of folk and Americana. The voice is a strong alto with a pleasing nasal quality, very unlike Mitchell's rather sweeter tones, which helps towards the different interpretations.
All the tracks stood out but I must mention Amelia, concerning Amelia Earhart the pioneering aviator who disappeared over the Pacific in 1937. The string quartet and also the flugelhorn play superbly to give 'flying' effects. On the classic song Woodstock the piano somehow manages to create a 'hippy' feel, then plays along with massed cymbals, and the track is beautifully rounded off with a vocal chorus from the singers, who sound as if they are indeed at Woodstock.
My Old Man is a tribute to a partner sung to piano accompaniment, with the classic line 'We don't need no piece of paper from the City Hall’. Chelsea Morning gives us a lively, perky flugelhorn solo; This Flight Tonight has skilled flowing guitar accompaniment. Court and Spark is played with the standard piano, bass and drums and Down to You is sung to flowing strings and comments from the flugelhorn. The singing on all the tracks gets the meaning of the lyrics across well. And so I've actually mentioned all the tracks in my enthusiasm.
Ms Colman hails from Bristol and this is her second CD. She is a singer, songwriter and composer. The album was recorded as part of her work as a recording-artist-in residence at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 2019. She has worked with many other artists such as Liane Carroll, and has performed at the BBC Proms.
The album was released yesterday, November 26, and is available digitally and everywhere. See www.saracolman.com
Court and Spark; Chelsea Morning; Amelia; This Flight
Tonight; Down to You; Woodstock; My Old Man - Ann Alex
No comments :
Post a Comment