Rebecca Vasmant: Who We Are, Becoming: (New Soil x Women in Jazz NS01 123D)
Born in Paris and raised in Scotland, Rebecca Vasmant has become an unofficial ambassador for contemporary jazz. Drawing deeply on personal experiences that have shaped her, Vasmant – a DJ producer as well as performer – has put together a haunting album that has a magpie quality to it, drawing it as does on so many different influences. There are hypnotic rhythms, spoken words, electronics, horns and strings all working together to shape the sound. In fact, Rebecca leads some 25 musicians in this personal musical journey, exploring identity, equality, femininity and self-development.
The album reminded me several times of the work of Moby, influenced as it is by so many different sources of sound and musical styles. It needs to be listened to and enjoyed as one whole piece, but one track – Blessed – perhaps sums up the essence of the project. It is a slow, haunting ballad with a Kind Of Blue feeling about it in how it is composed and layered. The music is allowed to breathe as it develops. Superbly original and a compelling listen, this musical exploration of what it is to be human and to be part of something bigger than just our ourselves is both thought provoking and quite beautiful to lose yourself in.
Emily Saunders: Moon Shifts Oceans (The Mix Sounds MIXS2511)
The latest album from the critically acclaimed Saunders is a high-energy listen right from the off. The release notes advise the listener to “think honey vibes and breathless pop sexiness”. Saunders has been called the “Queen of jazz fusion” and that’s an accurate assessment of the style, on which she expands more in a recent JJ interview, as well as noting that the musicians were quite strictly constrained. This is jazz as composition rather than improv – something of which there is a strong defining tradition – and her writing is powerfully in the style, influenced by such as Frank Zappa and surely in the opening track, by Stevie Wonder.
There are shades too of Beth Orton tucked away in places, especially as hypnotic beats swallow up the listener over the course of the album. Vocally, Saunders has been compared with Goldfrapp, Erykah Badu and India Arie but she has a unique vocal style and delivery; intriguingly, intimations of ABBA’s Anni-Frid on helium came to my mind often through the album. Floating is the standout ear-worm track that is hard to shake once you’ve listened to it.
Robert Lee: Forbidden West (In The Sun Records ITSCD 102)
East meets west in this excellent, melodic album from Korean Canadian Robert Lee. Mixing traditional jazz instruments of bass, piano, drums and saxophone with the Korean gayageum, Lee explores what it means to be influenced by different cultures. The resultant nine tracks offer music of the highest quality. Heavy on melodic content, there is a really successful blend of cultures and musical textures.
As well as composing all the music, bassist Lee has surrounded himself with great fellow musicians. Allisun Au shines on saxophone, and Todd Pentney provides some lovely, swinging, bluesy piano that weaves through the material. Roa Lee on gayageum brings a subtle blend of Korean textures that offers the listener something quite different to enjoy. Complete with vocals from Sangah Lee and Jacqueline Teh, Forbidden West is a joyful listen from start to finish. It’s enhanced in no small way by excellent quality recording, mixing and mastering.
