Yes, there is a surfeit of female jazz vocalists around. So, how do you decide which to listen to? How about one that writes here own material? I mean, just how many versions of “My Funny Valentine” is a guy supposed to tolerate?!?
So here comes up from down under In Australia Ilaria Crociani, with a voice that is flexible, clear and with a hint of Joni Mitchell depth. This nine song collection of tunes contains a pretty wide palate of colors and moods, and the team of Paul Grabowsky/p, John Griffiths/lute, Mirko Guerrini/sax-cl-key, Geoff Hughes/g, Ben Robertson/b and Niko Schauble/dr-perc is up to the task.
One pieces like “Stones of Fire” and “ Mary Lou”, Crociani longingly floats with Grabowsky’s piano, with Guerrini’s sax blowing warm embers on the former, and Robertson cascading with his bass on the latter. She’s poetic and bohemian with Hughes adding a rockfish edge on the herky-jerky “The Author Is Dead” and equally quirky with an edge as Guerrini and Hughes form palpable effects on “Eat My Dust”. Crociani gets funky with Grabowsky’s inquisitive piano for “Silent Winds” and is stately while telling a story with Griffiths on “Gina”.
Crociani displays some impressive dynamics, holding and releasing with Guerrini’s keyboards for “Musicalli Affetti” and is drop dead gorgeous with Hughes nylon strings as she sings in Italian on the tender folk mood of “Cosa Resta Del Giorno”. The album covers a wide spread of moods, sort of like strolling through an art gallery, with each painting its own depiction, but fitting well into the gallery. Give it a try.
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