JULIET WOOD - Sconsolato
Self Release
Juliet Wood (vocals); John Crawford (piano); Andrés Lafone (bass); Andrés Ticino (percussion)
Difficult to know where to begin with this outstanding debut album from Juliet Wood. Where has she sprung from? Why is this her first album? Why haven't I heard of her before now?. Why she has waited so long to release her debut recording maybe a mystery, but now that she has is a cause for celebration.
With Sconsolato the singer has put together a trio of three of the best exponents of Latin-tinged jazz, and then stretched both them and herself with an imaginative programme of brilliantly arranged songs that are flawlessly delivered. In a less than obvious set, half of the songs originally began as instrumental charts for big bands, with the complex harmonies such material often entails, and Ms Wood takes all in her stride.
The trio graciously take a back seat and concentrate on putting Juliet firmly in the spotlight with incredibly sensitive accompaniment. Taking full advantage of this Wood offers a sumptuous and beautiful wordless reading of Billy Strayhorn's 'Chelsea Bridge', and her superb sense of timing and impeccable enunciation is captured on a furious 'Fascinating Rhythm'. Citing her influences as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Joni Mitchell and Norma Winstone, she has bravely opened the album with Duncan Lamont's 'Manhattan In The Rain' and followed this with 'Midnight Sun', both of which have been recorded by Winstone. Unphased Juliet delivers up a top notch rendition and putting her own individual stamp on each.
The title track, a song of love and loss penned by Jimmy Woode and recorded by Mark Murphy in 1968 is a near perfect example of her craft, beautifully arranged and sung with passion and a natural ability to tell a story. This knack with a melody and good lyric is once again repeated with the set closing, as it begun, with a song by Duncan Lamont, 'Billie Holiday' that is truly heartfelt.
If, like me, you have not encountered Juliet Wood's exquisite singing before then this is something that you should rectify immediately, if not sooner, as this is the best vocal album I have heard this year.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Self Release
Juliet Wood (vocals); John Crawford (piano); Andrés Lafone (bass); Andrés Ticino (percussion)
Difficult to know where to begin with this outstanding debut album from Juliet Wood. Where has she sprung from? Why is this her first album? Why haven't I heard of her before now?. Why she has waited so long to release her debut recording maybe a mystery, but now that she has is a cause for celebration.
With Sconsolato the singer has put together a trio of three of the best exponents of Latin-tinged jazz, and then stretched both them and herself with an imaginative programme of brilliantly arranged songs that are flawlessly delivered. In a less than obvious set, half of the songs originally began as instrumental charts for big bands, with the complex harmonies such material often entails, and Ms Wood takes all in her stride.
The trio graciously take a back seat and concentrate on putting Juliet firmly in the spotlight with incredibly sensitive accompaniment. Taking full advantage of this Wood offers a sumptuous and beautiful wordless reading of Billy Strayhorn's 'Chelsea Bridge', and her superb sense of timing and impeccable enunciation is captured on a furious 'Fascinating Rhythm'. Citing her influences as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, Joni Mitchell and Norma Winstone, she has bravely opened the album with Duncan Lamont's 'Manhattan In The Rain' and followed this with 'Midnight Sun', both of which have been recorded by Winstone. Unphased Juliet delivers up a top notch rendition and putting her own individual stamp on each.
The title track, a song of love and loss penned by Jimmy Woode and recorded by Mark Murphy in 1968 is a near perfect example of her craft, beautifully arranged and sung with passion and a natural ability to tell a story. This knack with a melody and good lyric is once again repeated with the set closing, as it begun, with a song by Duncan Lamont, 'Billie Holiday' that is truly heartfelt.
If, like me, you have not encountered Juliet Wood's exquisite singing before then this is something that you should rectify immediately, if not sooner, as this is the best vocal album I have heard this year.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
