While calling Slovakia her home country, Hanka G covers a wide width of sounds and cultures on this engaging album with a voice that fills a room. She’s supported by a mix and match cast that includes post bop saxist Antoine Roney as well as “Shedrick Mitchell/key, Rashaan Carter/b, Taru Alexander/dr, Marvin Sewell-Sherrod Barnes/g among other cameo guests. She sounds like she grew up in the church as she preaches it on a dramatic “All The Man That I Need” and is ubeat on the soulful “Through The Fire”. There’s a hint of Dianna Reeves on “Someday We’ll All Be Free” while getting into a saloon mood with Hurt on “I Am Such A Pretty Girl”. She shows her edgy mood on a sultry “Bird Has Landed” and goes R&B on “Dance Dance”. This lady will grab ya by the throat!
Clearly enunciated vocals are produced by Deb Rasmussen, teaming with Jon Day/p, Jeremy Coates/b and Robin Tufts/dr for a mix of standards and well crafted originals. Of the former, she undulates with Day on a tender and vulnerable “It Never Entered My Mind” and gets deeply intimate on “My Best To You”. The team gives a hip Latin feel to “I Hear A Rhapsody” and Coates does some nice work on “In Your Own Sweet Way. Her own material is impressive, giving a contemplative feel to the gospel’d “Peace, Like a River” and delicate on the rich “Swept Away” and showing her story telling ability on “Fly Away”. Creative couplings.