RECORD REVIEWS

"extraordinarily pow€rful.;.

- John Atkinson, StereoPhile

JANE MONHEIT MIKE MORENO The Songbook Sessions; Ella Fitzgerald Iotus

Jane Monheit, vocals; , trumpet, Mike Moreno, electric & acoustic guitar; arrangements; five others , piano, Fender Rhodes; Doug Weiss, Emerald City ECR 001 (CD).2016. Nicholas Payton, bass; , drums prod.; David Stoller, eng. DDD? TT: 58:48 World Culture Audio & Video Labs 5638604712 pERFoRMANcE lE-E& (CD). 2015. Mike Moreno, prod.; Chris Allen, eng. DDD. TT:49:58 sor,rcs EXXX& PERFoRMANcE l-tE-! There may be people out there besides soxrcs Ef,tdB me who have thought ofJane Monheit Guitarist Mile Moreno, a formidable as a nice singer with a lovely voice, sideman with ,'Will but a lightweight. If we weren't wrong Vinson, , and many r before, we are now. others, has brought to his work as a The vocalist on this record is an leader a haunting compositional sense audacious, hi gh-risk improvising arrist. and flair for sonic invention. One of his The Songbook Sessdozs is Monheitts first hallmarks is a beguiling blend of elec- recording for own label, and she's tric and acoustic guitar textures that made her own decisions. ICs her first lends his music a distinctive sparkle collaboration with Nicholas Payton and intimary. ,qpa,,3 as producer, arranger, and featured On Lotus that electric/acoustic ffumpet soloist. Ella Fitzgerald sang dualiry is more pronounced, more the definitive, default versions ofthese deftly handled than ever. The album's The JosephAudio Pulsar songs. Payton's charts reimagine them melodic clariry and unshakable quartet in contemporary harmonic terms and, chemistry mark it a standout in an 15" High, l/2"Wide. 8 in his words, "pushJane into places she already compelling catalog. Pianist Spectaculorly Deep. might not push herself." Aaron Parks and bassist Doug Weiss, Get the full story at It is paradoxical that Monheit's most both on hand &om previous Moreno www.josephaudio.com personal album is a tribute to another sessions, couldn't be more compatible singer. But it is precisely the tension with drummer Eric Harland, whose bewveen Fitzgerald's remembered steady but flexible groove and nuanced purity and Monheit's current edginess sound palette frame Moreno's com- "The Pulsars are that makes this record compelling. In positions in the best light. The mix is veritable !ight- sabers" such pieces as "somebody Loves Me," superb: softly muted snare-drum beats "Something's Gotta Give," and'Al1 of sound crisp and unusual; the woody, 5teven Stone, Ihe Absolute Sound You," Fitzgerald's swing was a force of metallic acoustic guitar enhances the "For those of you who have nature. Monheit and Payton put kinks more liquid-sounding electric; intricate dreamed of owning relatively in these tunes, with suspenseful hesita- and beaudful guitar-piano unisons sing compact stand mount monitors tions and sudden rushes. Monheit out and spiral onward. that really do convey the sense of smears "Ev'ry Time We Say Good- ICs notable that Moreno hasn't used reproducing (near) full-range bass, bye" all across the bar lines. Her loose a horn on record since his 2007 debut. rephrasing sounds driven by emotion, Or Lotus he stays with that chord-rich 'Wind" not technical conceit. "Il1 and aesthetic, elaborating the lush harmony Chris Martens.Th-. AbsoJute 5ound "This Time the Dream's on Me" start along with Parks but also, at times, as songs and become drimaric recita- keeping to the background. His subtle tions. The eroticism of Monheit's "I've slide-guitar flourishes in "The Hills of Got You Under My Skin" is a sensual Kykuit" are particularly inspired. So is domain Fitzgerald never gave herself his boundlessly expressive acoustic solo permission to explore. in "The Empress." Parks's shimmery For fans of jtzz vocal, art, the best Fender Rhodes in the hovering ballad news of the year to date is that Mon- "Can We Stay Forever?" harks back heit and Payton plan rnore Songbook to the vibraphone-centric sound of Sesstorr.-Thom comd Ano th u Way. -o *;a a.. ea*

September 2016 . stereophile.com