An album of original songs based on the singer's life experience. This includes surviving cancer, bringing up children, watching them play, and not taking anything for granted. Ms Martin, after a successful career in academia, decided to follow her dream of recording an album.
The singer has a PhD in Jazz Studies and is currently the vocal jazz instructor at the Universiy of Toledo and at Toledo School for the Arts. She has performed at Pittsburgh Jazz festival, the Sunset Jazz Festival, Michigan Jazz Festival and sung with the National Arab Orchestra in Texas. She has performed alongside the likes of Esperanza Spalding, Jon Hendricks and Afro Blue. Ms Martin is currently touring in the Midwest.
The CD covers bebop, Latin grooves, ballads and swing. The voice is light, warm, with a soprano tone verging towards a musical theatre sound which, to my ears, isn't ideal for jazz, but is generally good. The lyrics are interesting and articulate, and the instrumentalists are well up to the mark, as on most of these albums which feature a singer.
The album opens with the lively percussion of a samba, portraying her daughters at play, including a neat clarinet solo and background vocals. There follows a slow ballad with a close harmony duet with Mike Harrison; then comes a sensuous tango with drums and accordion. Never Will I Worry which concerns divorce, was a little too dramatic for my taste and Renewal, which is about the natural world, gives us a welcome bass solo and skilled, rich, ensemble playing.
Steel Eye City is a hard bop swinger with some pleasing scat. The piano flows on Verdant and the CD is neatly rounded off with Moments, which was written after the death of her grandfather, about the memories of love which are left behind after such a death.
The album is well worth a listen and is available in store or online. Ann Alex
Living For the Now; As Time Goes; Dancers Serenade; Never Will I Worry; Love Somehow Will Heal; Renewal; Steel Eye City; Verdant; Lucianita; Lady Liberty; Step Into Your Essence: Moments
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