FIONA ROSS - Fierce And Non-Compliant
Self Release
Fiona Ross (vocals, keyboards); Gibbi Bettini (guitar); Derek Daley (bass); Marley Drummond (drums); Loren Hignall (saxophones); Adam Brown (trumpet); Adam Hayes (percussion); Ashaine White (backing vocals)
with Snow Owl (bass); Kim Cypher (saxophone); Adam Cooper (vocals); Marco Piccioni (guitar)
This new album from vocalist, pianist, composer, producer and writer, Fiona Ross is exactly what it says on the tin. Fierce and non-compliant in just about anything she does, Ross refuses to be pigeon holed or tied by any restraints imposed by others or indeed by herself.
With this album Fiona has produced a work that is joyous and upbeat but not without its tender moments too. In a set that encompasses jazz, souls and blues, Ross totally owns the music. Whether taking on an uptempo piece or ballad, her voice is so commanding she immediately grabs the attention. The album is packed with some great songs that means that interest never wains. To this end, Fiona Ross knows how to make an album. Great songs, superb arrangements and the secret ingredient, knowing how to mix it up a little without the finished product sounding like a bunch of tunes with no thought for programming or structure of the album as whole.
Ross' way with a lyric is expertly delivered on a heart wrenching 'For My Dad' with the vocal recorded live on a stairwell. This trick is is also repeated on 'Feel', a spectacular number that sounds like it may have come out of a blockbuster movie. In more of a jazz setting we have 'Use The Right Words', and the uplifting and inspiring title track with some great section work. Saxophonist Loren Hignall gets in a couple of cracking solos, and Adam Brown's muted tumpet on 'For My Dad' is most effective and affecting.
The closing 'Doing My Thing' re-enforces the singer's non-compliance, and rightly so too. If being non-compliant produces music like this then count me in.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Self Release
Fiona Ross (vocals, keyboards); Gibbi Bettini (guitar); Derek Daley (bass); Marley Drummond (drums); Loren Hignall (saxophones); Adam Brown (trumpet); Adam Hayes (percussion); Ashaine White (backing vocals)
with Snow Owl (bass); Kim Cypher (saxophone); Adam Cooper (vocals); Marco Piccioni (guitar)
This new album from vocalist, pianist, composer, producer and writer, Fiona Ross is exactly what it says on the tin. Fierce and non-compliant in just about anything she does, Ross refuses to be pigeon holed or tied by any restraints imposed by others or indeed by herself.
With this album Fiona has produced a work that is joyous and upbeat but not without its tender moments too. In a set that encompasses jazz, souls and blues, Ross totally owns the music. Whether taking on an uptempo piece or ballad, her voice is so commanding she immediately grabs the attention. The album is packed with some great songs that means that interest never wains. To this end, Fiona Ross knows how to make an album. Great songs, superb arrangements and the secret ingredient, knowing how to mix it up a little without the finished product sounding like a bunch of tunes with no thought for programming or structure of the album as whole.
Ross' way with a lyric is expertly delivered on a heart wrenching 'For My Dad' with the vocal recorded live on a stairwell. This trick is is also repeated on 'Feel', a spectacular number that sounds like it may have come out of a blockbuster movie. In more of a jazz setting we have 'Use The Right Words', and the uplifting and inspiring title track with some great section work. Saxophonist Loren Hignall gets in a couple of cracking solos, and Adam Brown's muted tumpet on 'For My Dad' is most effective and affecting.
The closing 'Doing My Thing' re-enforces the singer's non-compliance, and rightly so too. If being non-compliant produces music like this then count me in.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
