Samara Joy's new album is, as expected, outstanding. Hearing her with four horns and rhythm is mindblowing. Her range is awesome and that's not a word I use lightly. For me to describe something as awesome simply means that it is, well, er, awesome!
Is there a singer outside of the Met, La Scala or the Royal Opera House with such a range? I doubt it.
Eight songs, some more familiar than others but, once heard, all become unforgettable.
1) You Stepped Out of a Dream: Easy swinging tempo. The voice making the first of many trips to the moon on gossamer wings. Piano and trumpet keep the mood going before Samara shuts it down with some fancy scatting.
2) Reincarnation of a Lovebird: The unaccompanied vocal introduction took my breath away. Putting her own lyrics to Mingus' music made for a perfect blend. When the horns came in trading fours this was pure Mingus. Knepper, Richmond and co live!
3) Autumn Nocturne: A suggestion of Sarah Vaughan and a lot of Samara Joy.
4) Peace of Mind/Dreams Come True: Peace of Mind, a dramatic soul searching original by Joy and McCallister segues into Sun Ra's Dreams Come True. A swinger that has Samara finding happiness in the swingingest of ways.
5) A Fool in Love (is called a clown): Trombonist Austin, the composer, alto saxist Mason, the soloist and Ms Joy the vocalist. What a team!
6) No More Blues: Every singer and her sister has had a crack at the Jobim tune. None have matched this version with its wild vocal and the short, pithy, blasts from the horns.
7) Now and Then (in remembrance of...): A gem amongst gems! Samara wrote the lyrics and no less a musician than the late Barry Harris composed the melody. A track of both beauty and pathos. Some nice alto. Have a tissue handy ...
Day by Day: A bouncy groove, trombone as cool as a British summer's day. Vocal, as always, out of this world.
Check it out, send a letter to Santa ... Lance
Listen to You Stepped Out of a Dream HERE.
Arrangers: Jason Charos (1, 6.); Kendric McCallister (2, 3, 7.); Evan Sherman (4a.); David Mason (4b, 8.); Donavan Austin (5.)
1 comment :
Agree with everything you say Lance - she is FANTASTIC, and I first heard about her on BSH, and since then listened to many of her songs on You Tube. Just listened to Out of a Dream - she is so relaxed and as you say an incredible range. I am learning Autumn Nocturne...such a great tune.
Will definitely get this album.
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