With each release, Cecile McClorin Salvant becomes less of a jazz singer per se, and more of painter who uses her voice as a brush. Instead of simple songs, each title is more like a framed piece of art hanging on the wall, with hues both light and dark, with different moods and various textures. This latest album still has her at times with long time pianist Sullivan Fortner, but she herself also plays the piano, and she mixes and matches like no other album, bringing in flute (Alexa Tarantino), banjo (James Chirillo), percussion (Keita Ogawa) and even a Youth Chorus along with Aaron Diehl/p-org, Paul Sikivie/b, Kyle Poole/dr and Marvin Sewel/g among others.
As for the “songs”, well Salvant opens things up with a liturgical vocal introduction to “Wuthering Heights” that then takes you into Gaellic territory with Sikivie’s electronic support. She ties in the “Wizard of Oz” tunings of “Optimistic Voices” with Gregory Porter’s “No Love Dying” with a mix of hot ‘cha jazz with a twist of R&B. There’s a talking intro al la Blossom Dearie on the playful “Obligation” with some frisky piano and drums, while the music of “I Lost My Mind” goes through a kaleidoscope with a dark piano, choir chanting, and dark organ. Rap and Broadway are juxtaposed on “The Worlk is Mean” and Ms Salvant goes subtonal on the dreamy “Dead Popular” , going tender with Sewell on ”Thunder Clouds”. She’s all alone in a spacious quarter on the stark “Unquiet Grave”, with moods throughout the album and even most songs changing like a allergic patient during pollen season. This is not background music; like being in an art gallery, one must sit and take it in, maybe even checking in with the local docent.