Reviewed: 2019-07-17
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Jovovic is a jazz singer from Serbia, who sings in different styles without accent. Her solo debut contains a mix of Balkan traditions with R&B, jazz and poetry. Jelena wrote 6 of the 10 tracks, and arranged the arrangements for the remaining 4. Her vocal magic is supported by a rather extensive group of talented players.
If You Like: Flora Purim, Ella Fitzgerald
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
**1/ Witch Hunt (8:43) – bells/bass/vocal start> midtempo song> midtempo jam> midtempo song with chorus> Rhodes solo> sax solo> scat with chorus> bass solo> midtempo jam> midtempo song> crescendo end on vocal
*2/ Paladin (4:10) – piano solo starts> slow tempo song> piano solo> slow song> slow fade
***3/ The Countless Stars (6:18) – low drone throat singer starts> midtempo song with heavy chorus> trumpet/scat solo interweave> trombone solo> piano solo> uptempo jam & song> piano solo & song to fade
*4/ Heartbeat (5:12) – Rhodes starts> midtempo mellow song> swings up in volume with chorus> sax solo> midtempo song> crescendo vocal end
**5/ Bubu’s Song (4:53) – piano/vocal starts slow & quiet> jumps in volume & swings to jaunty midtempo song> scat solo & vibes solo trade back & forth> piano solo> bass solo & drum solo trade off> uptempo song> quick stop
*6/ Sweet Music (5:42) – piano starts> slow jam with trumpet up front> slow song> trumpet solo> slow song> slow fade
7/ Little Freddie Steps (4:27) – drums/vocal starts loud in slow cascade> uptempo song> sax solo> scat solo> trumpet solo> uptempo song> crescendo vocal end
8/Time Is Here (4:21) – sax starts> midtempo song> trumpet solo> Rhodes solo> midtempo song> slow fade on vocal
*9/ Mad In Heaven (4:44) – piano starts> midtempo song> sax solo> piano solo> midtempo song> slow fade
**10/ Pools (4:44) – drums starts> midtempo song> chorus kicks in> song swings uptempo> vibes solo> uptempo song> crescendo end