Album Review: Windows Through Time from Mariah Parker

-

Album:  Windows Through Time
Artist:  Mariah Parker
Label:  Ancient-Future.com Records
Website: mariahparkermusic.com

Mariah Parker’s compositions on her 2024 release Windows Through Time are characteristic of her penchant to explore Latin rhythms combined with wordless chanting and melodic interfacing, compiling a bounty of sonically soaring structures.  The vivacious voicing of Paul McCandless's saxophone is complimented by the elegant stride of Parker's piano keys and the soothing vibrations of Matthew Montfort's scalloped fretboard guitar.  The rhythm section of Ian Dogole on cymbals and cajon along with drummer Mark Walker, bassists Sascha Jacobsen, Kash Killion and Gary Brown, and percussionists Daniel Feldman and Michaelle Goerlitz cup the spacious soundscapes in a steady hold, solidifying the tracks harmonious flow.

Parker's track "Sol de Barcelona" has a vibrant Latin beat that transports the listener into an ecstatic state of mind.  With a flare for producing soaring soundscapes, the tangoesque strut of Montfort's guitar strings is entrancing as McCandless's trembling saxophone toots supplement the track with a mesmerizing peal, adding Parker's twinkling keys to the serene vista.  Slowing to a samba promenade along "Espírito Samba," the glistening timbres of Montfort's guitar strings are enshroud in the warmth of McCandless's energetic saxophone shimmies and the rhythm section's rattling beats.

The recording turns reflective along "True North," brandishing a slow burning flame filament by McCandless's lulling saxophone tweets and Parker's sinuous keys.  The sensuous raptures woven along the melodic swells of "Duende" are accented by the flamenco inflection of Montfort's lithesome guitar strings.  The tranquility echoing across "Rendezvous" is bolstered by the satiny texture of McCandless's saxophone as Parker's keys infuse a dream-like ether. Smoothly, Claudia Villela’s haunting vocals float across the title track as Paul McCandless’s cradles her chanting in sleek silhouettes.

Mariah Parker takes the listener along a musical jaunt clad in harmonious soundscapes that are uplifting and reflective.  Her academic tenure at UC Santa Cruz instilled in her a penchant to finesse melodic trimmings formed by the instruments interfacing.  Each track is a portrait of Parker's vision, as the music embodies her sentiment and influences.  Riffing with her band off of the Latin jazz template, her music resonates with her audience and the human soul.

Musicians:
Mariah Parker - piano
Paul McCandless - saxophone
Matthew Montfort - scalloped fretboard guitar
Sascha Jacobsen - bass
Kash Killion - bass
Gary Brown - bass
Mark Walker - drums
Ian Dogole - cymbals and cajon
Daniel Feldman - percussion
Michaelle Goerlitz - percussion
Claudia Villela - vocals

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Album Review: Becoming Marlene Dietrich from Myriam Phiro

-
Image
Album:  Becoming Marlene Dietrich Artist:  Myriam Phiro Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.myriamphiro.com Smooth jazz vocalist Myriam Phiro introduces a new generation of music listeners to jazz standards that made Marlene Dietrich famous in her time from the 1920's to 1940's with Phiro's new release Becoming Marlene Dietrich .  Although Phiro immerses herself in melodies that had been Dietrich's trademark tunes, Phiro tailors the songs to her likeness.  Her illustrious mezzo-soprano register is higher on the vocal spectrum than Dietrich's contralto pitch, which stamps the tracks with her own unique nuances and inflections.  Her treatment of the verses is finessed with a distinctly soft, feminine touch and a delightfully, hypnotic resonance, setting her style apart from Dietrich's. Her vocals cradle the lyrics of "Quand L’Amour Meurt," written by Georges Crémieux and Octave Millandy, with a warmth that penetrates the listener's soul as Hyuna Park...
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