So many women, so little time…
Classify vocalist and composer April March under “cute and quirky chicks” a la Sia on this album of various moods and atmospheres. There’s a regular band of rotating drums/guitars/bass/keyboards and horns with occasional strings, with the material going from a folksy “Elinor Blue” to a Caribbean “Rolla Rolla” with synth support. She taps into her inner Ronettes on the 50s “Ride or Divide” and goes 80s techno on the cure “Runaway”. A fun first date.
Blessed with a mature and world wise husky voice, Laura Stilwell teams up with Tommy James/p, Ron Steen/dr, Perry Thoorsell-Dennis Caiazza/b and Dave Evans/cl-ts for some classy reads of standards. She flows around Steen’s brushes on a lovely “Out of Nowhere” and is nimble around Caiazza on the samba’d “You Stepped Out of A Dream”. A cozy “Don’t Be That Way” has her nostalgic with Evans licorice stick while she’s relaxed around his breathy tenor on the reclining “If You Could See Me Now”. Comfortable in her own skin.
Earth toned singer Corina Bartra takes you on atour of Afro-Peruvian jazz and fusion on this panoramic collection of sounds, mixing her own material with some standards. She sways seductively to Tom Jobim’s “Wave” and goes English with nylon strings to “Send In The Clowns”. Her own “Ebano Sky” features upbeat pulses and searing soprano sax, while she slithers to “Carambas Si”. A gorgeous “Azue Sky” features her nimble enunciations while she goes fiery and tribal and the folk village wailing on “Magenta Moon”. A well guided tour through the beaches, cities and jungles.
Broadway voiced Courney Freed mixes styles with her team of David Saffert/key, Bernardo Gomez/b, Kyle Owen/dr, Hamody Hindi/g, Josh Gilbert/wwinds and a string section. She’s folksy on the uplifting “There’s a Morning Coing” and wears nylons well supported by Hindi’s guitar on the samba “No More Blues” and the easy swinger “Ancient History”. There’s a clever take of the 80s pop hit “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” while she reclines in the dark on the “Melancholy Blues”. Stories to tell.