A bright new jazz vocals talent here on the UK scene in Emily Masser whose optimistic vocals are exuberantly backed by the Art Blakey-like rumble and roll of the Clark Tracey quintet. Masser is in her early twenties and a student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and has a clear feel for bebop and feelgood swinging lines. Bassist James Owston bounces the sound along nicely and there are some fine breakout sax solos from Alex Clarke while the line-up is completed by pianist Graham Harvey. Tunes include evergreens such as 'The Man I Love' led off in sprightly fashion by Harvey and 'I'm Old Fashioned'. There's a well picked choice for heritage Britjazz fans in a version of Jimmy Deuchar's 'Suddenly Last Tuesday'. Masser's voice reminds me a little of Emily Dankworth, Emma Smith and perhaps even Annie Ross (on the fun opener Bobby Watson's 'A Bitta Bittadose'). SG. Out in March - a couple of tracks are streaming on Bandcamp
Tags: Reviews