Unique and alluring ladies and their tones…
I grew up listening to Greek folk music, and Italian Irene Jalenti’s voice reminds me of those earthy and husky toned singers. She’s teamed up with Alan Blackman/p, Jeff Reed/b, Eric Kennedy/dr and guests Sean Jones/tp, Warren Wolf/vib and Cristian Perez/g on luscious and soulful reads. She draws you into her world of warm nights in the piazza on the gentle take of “Beautiful Love” with mixes gospel and R&B during an earnest read of “Let It Be”. Jones’ horns adds to the fluidity of Jalenti’s toying with the dynamics of “You and the Night and the Music” while Blackman adds mystery to the misty night of “Walking In The Air” . A closing duet with Wolf on “Dawn” is drop dead gorgeous, and a teaming with Perez has her like good with nylons on the crystalline “Alma Desnuda” and dreamy “Carinhoso”. Sing to me, Cara mia!
Usually surrounded by soft guitars, woodwinds or strings, bohemian voiced Stacey Kent delves into the world of duets with the simpatico pianist Art Hirahara. The themes are tied together by relationships to places of exotica, tied in with a thoughtful and strident read of Paul Simon’s “American Tune”. There’s a delicate trip to Brazil on “Bonita” and a gentle Left Bank turn during “Les Voyages” with Hirahara in a lyrical beret. Both show restraint on the soft and creamy “My Ship” with pastel shades of blue on “Imagina”. Kent takes her time gliding along the dance floor, milking every syllable of “Tango In Macao” for each accent, while the two give a morning light to the parlor in “Blackbird”. A well stamped passport.