Album Review: And So It Begins from Lois Bruno

-
Album:  And So It Begins
Artist:  Lois Bruno
Label: Wise Cat Records
Website:  www.wisecatrecords.com

Perhaps a part of the new generation of Las Vegas strip's Starlight Lounge vocalists and Manhattan's haughty Cafe Society icons, chanteuse Lois Bruno enchants, engrosses, and whisks listeners away with her rendition of popular jazz standards from the Great American Songbook on her latest release And So It Begins.  Supported by saxophonist Kenny Shanker, pianist Mike Eckroth, bassist Yoshi Waki, and drummer Brian Fishler, Bruno captivates audiences with her special brand of feminine touch.

Her remastering of Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart's monumental novelty "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" accentuates the lush resonance in her vocals.  Equally spellbinding is her treatment of Johnny Christopher, Mark James, and Wayne Carson's popular single "Always on My Mind" as she places poignant pauses along the verses that intensify the lamenting feelings expressed in the lyrics. 

The bopping beats of Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer's classic gem "That Old Black Magic" propel the swinging stride of her vocals.  Traversing forward, the bluesy timbres in her register are beautifully showcased in Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse's treasure "Feeling Good," etching comely swells that placard a soulful vibe.  Her interpretation of Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart's signature favorite "My Romance" varies from the beaten path, bolstered by jostling beats and frolicking keys, spicing up the soft and slow tempo that the melody is often recorded in by singers.

The opulence in Bruno's vocals is present in every track as she tailors each melody to her liking.  She wins over the listener with a natural ease, captivating her audience at the start and holding them entranced until the end.   The recording is absolutely lovely.  Her traction on jazz standards is solid, reverberating a voluptuous sonance that has a sturdy grip on the classic melodies.

Musicians:
Lois Bruno - vocals
Kenny Shanker - saxophone
Mike Eckroth - piano
Yoshi Waki - bass
Brian Fishler - drums

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Album Review: This Could Be The Start from Linda Purl

-
Image
Album: This Could Be The Start Artist:  Linda Purl Label: Reaching Records Website:  https://www.lindapurl.com Vocalist Linda Purl and her music director Tedd Firth come together for their fourth album, This Could Be the Start .  The collection contains Purl's reimagination of a handful of jazz standards, tailored to her vocal specifications.  Supported by an intimate cadre of musicians that include bassist David Finck, drummer Ray Marchica and reed player Nelson Rangell, Purl finesses a selection of Great American Songbook jewels with a contemporary sheen. The playful merengue rhythm driving "Blue Moon," a swinging romp written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, is trussed in Ray Marchica's percolating percussion and a profusion of jutting keys performed by Ted Firth.  The track steps out of the customary schematics of swing jazz bolstered by blues vocals and articulates a Latin-imbued tremor.  The bossa nova curves shaping one of Cole Porter's signature pieces,
Read more

Album Review: The Ways In from James Zollar

-
Image
Album:  The Ways In Artist:  James Zollar Label:  Label: JZAZ Records Websites:  https://www.rsberkeley.com/james-zollar https://www.discogs.com/artist/954763-James-Zollar https://wyntonmarsalis.org/personnel/detail/james-zollar A straight-ahead jazz oeuvre, The Ways In from bandleader and trumpet player James Zollar resumes a quest where pioneers of the trumpet's sympathetic vibrations like Clifford Brown and Bill Coleman left off.  Zollar shows audiences the delightful, melodious tone of the trumpet, moving in harmony with an array of brass, woodwinds, and rhythm instruments. The robust wails of Zollar's trumpet strutting languidly along "Do Nothing 'till You Hear From Me" emotes an enduring personable trait, unwavering persistence in the face of being dejected.  The recording switches to a joyful atmosphere in "Swing Spring" with jangly beats from percussionist Chembo Corniel, interfacing with the buoyant ripples generated by Michael Rorby's trom
Read more

Album Review: Globetrotter from Luca di Luzio

-
Image
Album:  Globetrotter Artist:  Luca di Luzio Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.lucadiluzio.it   Guitarist Luca di Luzio's upcoming CD, Globetrotter  is an assortment of contemporary jazz tunes bridging funk, blues, soul, and Latin music.  Comprised of a few jazz standards and a handful of original works written by Luca di Luzio, a prolific guitar player who studied different styles of music, the recording expresses his personal vision of jazz guitar based on melody and groove.  Joining Di Luzio in his vision are bass guitarist Jimmy Haslip, drummer Dave Wecki, keyboardist George Whitty, and saxophonists Max Ionata and Alessandro Fariselli. From dance-funk numbers like "Jazzlife" and "Elisir" to the soft billows and reflective moods projected in "Smile" and " Buena Suerte," Di Luzio's artistry stems from his vision to make music that is aesthetically pleasing.  "Sunshower," a tune written by Kenny Barron, is a pr
Read more