Reviewed: 2019-05-24
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Ethereal and earthy, vocalist Antonioli’s latest disc shines. The choices in this collection are superb, many collaborations with esteemed instrumental artists. Laurie is an excellent lyricist and the imagery that inhabits these songs flows naturally, melodically, as they bring these complex compositions into another dimension without interfering with the integrity of the songs. Laurie's voice is fluid, relaxed, and a prism of colors, deep in her alto range, and soaring effortlessly through the high notes. Her band surrounds her with beautiful playing that enhances, but never overwhelms. This is modern vocal jazz at its best, sophisticated, fresh, balanced, a delight to listen to.
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
***1/ Longing For You (5:56) –piano starts> midtempo song> piano solo> sax solo> song builds in volume & intensity to crescendo> midtempo song> fade
**2/ Riverwide (4:34) – guitar/tablas> uptempo song with soaring vocals> sax solo> electric guitar solo> soaring chorus> mellows, still uptempo song> crescendo end on vocal
*3/ Layla (3:55) – ethereal guitar starts> slow song> sliding guitar solo> slow song> fade
4/ Moonbirds (5:31) – piano starts> midtempo song> swings uptempo & choppy, then mellows into flowing river of sound with intersecting chorus> builds in volume & intensity> swings back to choppy, then mellows again to fade
5/ Harry’s House/ The Arrangement (6:32) – full band starts> midtempo song with intersecting chorus> pause> melody shift> midtempo song> fade
*6/ Love (3:55) – vocal starts> midtempo song> sax solo> midtempo song> fade
*7/ Highway (4:31) – drums/piano start> midtempo song with hard vocal & chorus> electric guitar solo> midtempo song builds in volume> quick fade
**8/ And So It Is (3:16) – guitar starts> slow song> guitar solo> slow song> slow fade
***9/ Don’t Let It Bring You Down (5:26) – cymbals/drums start> rocking uptempo song> piano solo> electric guitar romp> uptempo song> crescendo & fade