Y
es, there is a difference with chromosomes…Vocalist Emilie-Claiere Barlow mixes and matches musicians for a tapestry of warm and upbeat interpretations. She’s got a sandied voice, able to create a chasson feel on “ Fais Comme L’oisearu” and turning into an intimate Latin Lover on “Pajaros de Barro”. Bill McBirnie’s flute floats over the upbeat samba of “Bird of Beauty” and Rachel Therrien’s warm flugelhorn gives an indie feel to “O”. A tender “Skylark” includes a gorgeous mix of voice and cello, while the nylon strings bring out the samba mood in a clever “Over The Rainbow”. Eager to please.
Danielle Wertz brings her light voice and synth playing into focus with Javier Santiago/keys, KeithGanz/g, Samuel Priven/s,Owen Clapp/b and Evan Hyde/dr on this mix of standards and originals. There’s a Joni Mitchell’d tenderness to her material like “Other Side”, whereas “Aril 2020” and I Have Dreamed/Dreamville” are as ambient as 1990s Enja. She does some clever vocal percussion the intro to “Hall of Champions” with a subliminal range akin to Gretchn Parlato, drifing on the floating take of “A Sunday Kind of Love’. Pastel colors of sounds.
Tina Hartt takes you to the Left Bank as she takes the role of chanteuse of the chanson on this album with fellow boheminas Konrad Pluta/p-acc-arr, Andre Wickenheisr/fh, Cedric Blary/cl, Jonathan Lewis/vi, Keith O’Rourke/bs, Nick Bettcher/g, Rob Hutchinson/b, Luis ‘El Pana’ Tovar/prc and jeff Farard/dr in mix and match mode.
She milks the lyrics with gorgeous schmaltz as she acts out “Amour, Castagnettes Et Tanglo” with Lewis sauntering along with her, while she is clear and Broadway-bright on “Trust Your Heart”. She slithers across the floor with O’Rourke on “Absence of You” and is cozy and coy with Blary on “J’Attendrai”. A gypsy soul is exposed on “La Boheme” and Old World atmospheres hover like a room filled with cigarette smoke on “Kiss of Fire”. Of course she does “La Vie En Rose” and sounds like she just stepped out of a Puccini Opera.