In Italian, the word “cielo” translates into “heaven.” That’s exactly where you should send your thanks for this God given gift of an album. Akua Dixon teams up with a whole mess of violins, violas and bass players (of whom include John Blake Jr and Regina Carter)for a string along with Dixon reading of tunes ranging from a fervent and intoxicating “Haitian Fight Song” (told you you’d love it) to a bel canto “Beame Mucho” that will have you sauntering across the dance floor with a rose between your teeth. Mixing broad bows with insightful pizzicato plucking, Dixon and company brood over “Alone Together” and agonize on “It Never Entered My Mind” while the cellist lays down the lyric with saucy reflection. The strings slide across the table on “Libertango” while deliver a ruminating rubato while Andromeda Turre paeans over “Lush Life.” By the time the strings close out in a polyphonous “Poiciana” you’ll have been swept away by an album that oozes excitement, style and harmonic swing. A tough lady to beat!
Akua’s Music Records