Cécile McLorin Salvant, Ghost Song, Nonesuch ***

I'm in two minds about this latest album just released from jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. At heart there is that incredible voice that is as vivid and powerful as any great jazz singer from the past or present scene. And the album contains at …

Published: 6 Mar 2022. Updated: 2 years.

I'm in two minds about this latest album just released from jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant. At heart there is that incredible voice that is as vivid and powerful as any great jazz singer from the past or present scene. And the album contains at least two or three inspiring songs including the heartbreaker original 'Ghost Song'. I'm not sure that the sean-nós Irish traditional song framing of the album works so well however but where the album really thrives is in its rapport with pianist Sullivan Fortner. As for the covers Salvant's version of Sting's 'Until' works extremely well and I prefer it to the sprawling take on Kate Bush's 'Wuthering Heights'. A record to take your time over and to McLorin Salvant's credit she takes a lot of risks some of which work and some not so well. SG

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Julieta Eugenio, Jump, Greenleaf ****

There is no pianist or guitarist so the Argentinian tenor saxophonist Julieta Eugenio has her work cut out but stamps her personality on proceedings. With bassist Matt Dwonszyk springy and convincing throughout and a spirited drummer who we have …

Published: 5 Mar 2022. Updated: 2 years.

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There is no pianist or guitarist so the Argentinian tenor saxophonist Julieta Eugenio has her work cut out but stamps her personality on proceedings. With bassist Matt Dwonszyk springy and convincing throughout and a spirited drummer who we have been pushing on this site for a while in Jonathan Barber this is a strong showing and the more introspectively Eugenio journeys say on 'For You' the greater the impact is. Definitely a less-is-more sort of record the sound is very natural and there is very little production to get in the way of its direct appeal. Eugenio is big on tone and letting the sax sing out the melody that she is so adept at developing in the improvisation. A track like 'Flamingo' develops out of so little with bassist and drummer doing so much to kindle the beat and deft rhythmic slant that runs in parallel behind the sax line. A new name to many it seems almost compulsory to get to know Eugenio as word of mouth spreads.