Album Review: Somewhere from Angela Verbrugge

Album:  Somewhere
Artist:  Angela Verbrugge
Label:  Origin/OA2 Records
Websites:
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/angelaverbrugge
Official website: https://www.angelaverbrugge.com
 
Vancouver Island based vocalist and songwriter Angela Verbrugge intones expressive and nuanced vocals with a youthful aplomb that is infectious.  The clarion tune of her timbres is Broadway showtunes worthy as the warm resonance in her register grips the human heart.  Her latest release Somewhere demonstrates the suppleness of her voicing and the nimbleness in her articulation.   From soothing lullabies to romantic ballads and stargazing ruminations, Verbrugges captures the most alluring cross-section of the jazz spectrum.

Most stunning is her original number “Je Ne Veux Pas Te Dire Bonsoir,” translated “I Don’t Want To Say Goodnight To You.”  The languid gait in Verbrugge’s vocal purr is magnetic as Dave Say’s lounging saxophone toots and Miles Black’s gently trickling keys create a dreamy atmosphere reminiscent of the World War II swing era.  Though Verbrugge resounds a classic tone in her choice of jazz, her delivery is very much contemporary sounding and irrefutably youthful.   The stargazing ruminations of “If The Moon Turns Green,” penned by Bernard Hanigan and Paul Cates, showcase the elegant stride of her vocalese accompanied by the smooth bass strokes of Cameron Brown and the soft glitter in Ray Gallon’s keys.

The romantic ballad “For You, For Me, Forevermore,” written by George and Ira Gershwin, illustrates Verbrugge’s ability to parlay a conversational dialogue into lyrical verses that catch the listener’s imagination.  Her knack for breathing softly into her audience’s ear never fails to grab their attention.  Adding a tinge bossa nova into the swinging romp of ”Until I Met You (Corner Pocket)” by Freddie Green and Donald Wolf, Verbrugge displays an effortless versatility and nimbleness that enables her to swing between the two musical formats.  Her melodic sensibilities are easy on the ears and produce a stress relief effect.

Produced by Verbrugge, Somewhere tenderly strokes the listener’s aural senses, elevating and cradling the sensory stimulation of the body.  She captures the most alluring elements of the jazz spectrum, adding her individual youthfulness and clarion tone to the jazz culture.

 

Musicians:

Angela Verbrugge – vocals

Erik Kalaidzis – harmony vocals

Ray Gallon - piano

Miles Black – piano

Cameron Brown - bass

Jodi Proznick - bass

Anthony Pinciotti - drums

Joel Fountain - drums

Dave Say – saxophone