Two ladies singing new songs…
Alyssa Allgood has a strong and flexible voice, writing most of her own post-bop material and throwing in a couple of standards with Geoffrey Keezer/p, John Patitucci/b, Kendrick Scott/dr and Greg Ward/sax. She’s bold and expressive throughout, teaming with Ward on a modal rubato before grooving on “Burn (For Betty)”. She’s earthy and elastic on “Your Wings” and weaves well around Patitucci on “Time Told” and “Other Side”. She uses Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” like putty, molding it into a new creation. Bold ideas.
Gabriela Martina sings and arranges her compositions with Vancil Cooper/dr, Kyle Miles/b, Jussi Rejonin/g, Maxim Lubarsky/p-key, Ben Rosenblum/acc, Jason Palmer/tp-fh, Naseen Alatrash/cel and Khrys Williams voc. Each song has a completely different feel, with an Old World sense on “The Circus” and a popish R&B for “Dreams”. There’s even a hint of rap on the dark and staccato’d “Full Circle” and her effortless vocal range is moody with Palmer on “Come On Home”. Portraits in a gallery.