jazz2love

Album:  Let Go Artist:  Acute Inflection Label:  Self-Released Website:  www.acuteinflections.com Trained as a classical vocalist, Elasea Douglas' soulful timbres are supported by upright bassist Sadiki Pierre.  Together, they form Acute Inflections, a jazz duet whose latest release Let Go features reimaginations of an assortment of classic jazz and pop tunes, alongside a slew of original material written by the duet.  Their offering stirs uplifting sensations in the listener, targeting sweet spots and having a succor effect on their audience. The title track is an original tune that demonstrates the feminine strength and soulful beauty of Douglas' resonance with the calm, percussive strokes of Pierre's bass enhancing the melodic curves along the track.  Douglas displays a vocal style that is truly her own, truly warm and inviting with a human touch.  The duet's reworking of Billie Eilish's "Everything I Wanted" coalesces soul and blues with folk...

Album Review:  Songs in the Key of Wonder from James Austin, Jr. Label:  JCA Records Website:  www.jamesaustinjr.com Embarking on the journey to rework Steve Wonder's catalog of pop songs, pianist James Austin, Jr. interprets the tunes as pure instrumentals, drawing out influences of big band, Latin swing, classical music, and smooth jazz.  His CD Songs in the Key of Wonder reverberates  a nightingale-imbued iridescence as his keys inscribe a lyrical versing throughout the tracks.    The percussive beats lining "Another Star" exude a Latin shimmer as Austin's keys swirl around them with infectious exuberance.  Austin's interpretation is steep in Latin swing with horns that blaze smooth jazz shades reminiscent of soothing nocturnes.   The sensuous swivels of the horns strewn along "You've Got It Bad Girl" recede to give the piano solo the forefront as Austin's keys punctuate the track with beaming ripples.  The romantic mood fam...