Somewhere along the way, jazz lost the art of creating an environment for singer/songwriters. Even rare is when the artist is female, so Claudia Koval is breaking down a couple barriers on this impressive album, her second. Her first good call is the choice of some of LA’s best musicians, as she mixes and matches with Andris Mattson-Bill Cantos-Rique Pantoja/p, Gabe Davis-John B. Williams-Edwin Livingston/b, Mike Shapiro-Kevin Winard/dr, Dori Amarillo/g and various guests on this album that is as personal and intimate as vintage Cat Stevens, but with a sense of swing.
Her lyrics convey stories about the frailty of relationships, and she bares her soul on her vulnerable “Where Are You?” and is resigned on the reflective “Early To Bed.” She paints a portrait with rich brush strokes on the tender “Sheri Lynn” and is delicate on “Forever This Time” while showing a folksiness to “Dealer’s Choice.” Also underappreciated is the fact that these songs come from a long-overdue female perspective, making the ‘Round Midnightish “The Well Ran Dry” and emotional samba “Never Tasted An Oyster” all the more poignant.
She does do a few covers, and even these are personal dwellings, as gives a slinky film noir color to “Some Cats Know” and tells her story on Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” as if she’s sitting at the bar stool right next to you. “ Her musical tones are impressive as well, going wordless on the rich and panoramic “ Ode To Big Sur” that has her voice blend in with Alex Budman’s flute and alto sax. Short stories with musical notes; isn’t that the goal of every musician?