Sandy toned Danish vocalist Catherine Legardh teams up with alto saxist Sigurdur Flosason from Iceland and a supporting team of Anna Greta Siguroardottir/p, Jesper Thorn/b and Espen Laub von Lillienskjold/dr (which will be the last time I use the complete last names for the band) on a collection of originals. Legardh is clear and modern, gliding along the hip pulse of “ Hjem til Min Far” and waltzing well for “Skovens Vidner”. Flosason’s alto has a warm flow to it on Min Hund” with a bit of punch for the lazy “Det Gamle Sted”. Contemporary couplings.
Heidi Martin sings songs that are folksy, soulful and hip on this album with a core of Tarus Mateen/b and Eric Harland/dr and with guests Raymond Angry/key, George Burton/p, Tim Warfield/ss, Paul Bollenback/g, Josh Evans/tp and Paige Brown/voc. There’s some artsy R&Bish feel like vintage Billy Preston on a rumbling “Memphis” and “African Waltz” with some lounge actis on the sensuous “Come Passion” and “My Father Leeft Us For The Moon”. Some folk feel oozes out on “Given to the Left” and a flexible “Moon In Scorpio”. Original originals.
Songwriter Nicole Zuraitis songs and plays piano and keys with a group of all stars in Christian McBride/b, Gilad Hekselman/g Maya Kronfeld/keys and Dan Pugach/dr along with some guests. She’s confident and earthy around McBride’s booming line on ”The Good Ways” and shows a soft side with Hekselman for “Let Me Love You”. A bold delivery of Debussy’s “Reverie” displays her dynamics, while the group gets soulful on “Two Fish”. Musical messages.