There’s life beyond the standard approach to the Standard songbook, be it from North or South America. Here are two worthwhile vocal albums that make singing sound fresh again.
Sofia Ribeiro puts together an album that gives a nod to Brazilian sounds akin to samba, but also brings in that other type of music of Portuguese language, fado. Here, with Juan Andres Ospina/p, Petros Klampanis/b and Marcelo Woloski/perc she walks the sensuous tightrope. She’s got the classic soto voce, and uses it well on her own compositions. She’s gorgeously surrounded by longing strings on “Mar Sonoro” and “Vai Ficar Tudo Bem” (the later with heavenly harp and Arooj Aftab’s cameo dueting voice) and yearns with Yoed Nir’s cello on “Midnight Dreams.” Fresh and as fragrant as an outdoor vegetable market.
Erica Papillion-Posey has a clear and confident enunciation as she takes on standards with an unorthodox and fun mix of piano (Chester Daigle II), violin (Jairus Daigle) and bass (Ken Walker). The violin brings a rich and gypsy feel to counter and complement Papillion–Posey on the sly “Centerpiece” and the buoyant “Night and Day.” She is convincingly desultory with piano on “Don’t Explain” and “Good Morning Heartache” and gives a rich and intimate delivery on “Dindi.” She makes old things sound new.