The history of Salem is shaped by its infamous witch trials, where women suffered persecution from hysterical and corrupt legislative forces. Lauren Henderson grew up in a nearby New England town. Against the backdrop of changing women’s rights legislation in the US, her ninth album as a leader mixes Latin and black American styles to reflect on injustice and highlight the resilience of women.
The album takes its name from the Spanish for “the witch”. Its title track is a traditional Mexican folk song in the Jarochostyle, where piano and vibraphone combine to roughly imitate a traditional double-stringed sound. Henderson’s sultry, stage-whispered vocal contrasts sweetly with the sour chords and riotous instrumental solos.
Amistad is one of four Henderson compositions on the album, named after a Spanish colonial ship on which African slaves staged a famous revolt. The slow-moving track stalks the listener, blending musical genres to conjure a jittery and mysterious atmosphere. Short solos from vibraphone, piano and guitar leave big open spaces. Henderson’s voice disappears and reappears through the mist.
Three connected tracks strip down the sound to only Henderson’s vocals and Nick Tannura’s guitar. Scattered throughout the album, they explore the haunting composition Veinte Anos by Cuban singer, guitarist and composer María Teresa Vera. With time, the lovelorn and life-sick guitar pattern takes the form of an incantation. Henderson exhales the melody with more than a hint of hot venom.
La Bruja is a heartfelt and deeply considered record, with every beat and lyric carrying a potent weight of meaning. Henderson’s voice fuses self-assured silkiness with a hesitant and breathy quality, soothing the listener while never quite letting them settle. This is a record that hits the right spots with the right force at the right moment. Its message comes at the right time too.
Discography
Perfidia; Veinte Años; La Bruja; Fría; Así; Febrero Hums (Veinte Años); La Sitiera; Amistad; Deseo; Veinte Años II, Silencio (38.17)
Henderson (v); Joel Ross (vib); Nick Tannura (g); Gabe Schnider (g); Sean Mason (p); John Chin (p); Eric Wheeler (b); Joe Dyson (d). New York City, 2022.
Brontosaurus Records
