There’s a lot of reasons to love this album by Kandace Springs, who essentially hasn’t released anything since before the draconian pandemic lockdown.
First, Ms. Springs writes most of the material here, so you’re not going to get another rehash of “Someone To Watch Over Me”. Second, She plays the piano andkeyboards like a real jazzer, sounding at times like her inspiration Nina Simone at the ivories.
Lastly, she’s recaptured the lost art of singing with intimacy. Both her own material and the covers have Ms. Springs inviting you into her world, with conversant confessions, personal musings and heartfelt reflections. She mixes and matches with Caylen Bryant/b, Camile Gainer/dr, Carl Sturken-Bob Palmieri/g, Caylen Bryant-Theo Griffin/cel, Elena Pinder Hughes/fl, Jeannette Williams/caj and guest on vocals with the strings arranged by David Mann in such a way that pieces like “Run Your Race” feel like journeys into the soul. Late night moods create long shadows on “What Was I Made For” with dark hues on “Broken”. There’s an effortlessness to her range of dynamics and pitch on understated pieces such as “My Poor Heart” and “I’m Still Lonely” and her piano is dainty on the heartfelt “Chasing Shadows”. Her keyboards are sweet for “We’ll Find A Way” and she digs in with Gainer on “Pulse”. Springs does what all artists attempt, but she succeeds, she tells a story, and one you want to hear.