Pianist and arranger Monika Herzig brings together an impressive bopping team of ladies in Jamie Baum/fl, Reut Regev/tb, Jennifer Vincent/b, Rosa Avila/dr, Leni Stern/g, Lakecia Benjamin/as, Akua Dixon/cel and Mayra Casales/perc through a mix of originals and some clever covers.
Of the latter, Herzig takes Queen’s anthem “We Are The Champions” and gives it a rich pulse and cadence for Regev’s warm trombone to solo over. Her piano work is clever on a modal read of David Bowie’s “We Can Be (S)Heroes” while taking the team on a gospel train as she glistens on “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child”. Her own “Fall In Reading” has a dark piano intro before delving into a Sunday Morning mood, while the title track is a joyful Brazilian tribal piece with percolating percussion. Stern’s guitar stars a journey on “Sea of Change” and Regev’s voice is delicate on her “Up In The Sky” which has a Nina Simone feel to it. Closing things out, Herzog goes solo on an impressionistic “Memories of Petra”. All around, a well rounded outing of modern thought.