Beyond / BY ALLEN MORRISON Singer-Songwriters Follow Their Muses New releases this spring by three unusual singer-songwriters suggest how personal a muse can be, and a variety of approaches to tapping it. Two are from North Carolina natives with Appalachian musical roots who have gone on to write sophisticated songs that draw on Americana, rock, blues, gospel, folk, country and jazz. The third is a native of Yamanishi, Japan, who is in love with and Emmet Cohen deeply influenced by Brazilian jazz. Masters Legacy The first two, Becca Stevens and Sarah Series Volume 1 Siskind, also just happen to possess two CELLAR LIVE 031616 of the most thrilling female pop voices of HHH½ their generation. Like Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt and Trisha Yearwood, they are in- Emmet Cohen has plenty of experience per- stantly recognizable and have that combi- forming with top-tier musicians, including his nation of delicacy and emotive force that membership in Christian McBride’s Special can bring goosebumps to your skin. Trio and sideman credits with the likes of Kurt Becca Stevens’ Regina (GroundUP Elling and Herlin Riley. But when the twen- Music; 63:08 HHHHH) is the most spec- tacular of the albums. The long-awaited Becca Stevens ty-something pianist chanced upon playing follow-up to 2015’s Perfect Animal, it is a with the great drummer Jimmy Cobb, he expe- fully realized, rapturous meditation on series Nashville. On earlier albums, espe- rienced something special: a profundity he felt queens in history, myth, literature and her cially her 2013 masterpiece, Say it Louder, could only come from communing with an own fertile imagination; Regina is also Ste- she proved she is one of America’s great elder architect of modern jazz. vens’ muse and alter ego. With help from songwriters. This new collection of songs Not wanting the honeymoon to end, Cohen co-producers Troy Miller (an outstanding strips down her art to its essence: her voice, invited Cobb to be his featured guest on this drummer), musical wunderkind Jacob Col- which draws some of its emotional power trio recording that’s intended to be the first in from her sophisticated, original approach lier and Snarky Puppy bassist/composer a series of collaborations with jazz statesmen. Michael League, Stevens has produced a to melisma; her reverb-heavy, hollow-bod- Cohen’s playing springs from tradition. complex, densely layered studio album ied electric guitar; and an excellent trio in- with allusive songs that are alternately cluding husband Travis Book (of bluegrass Favoring swinging phrasing and concise dreamy and spine-tingling. This is a richly sensation The Infamous Stringdusters) on melodic arcs colored by a rich harmonic vocab- collaborative album that also includes the bass and backing vocals and drummer Bri- ulary, the tasteful pianist never lets his nim- talents of singers Laura Mvula, Jo Law- an Caputo. All the songs are first-rate, but ble, cleanly articulated technique overflow into ry and Alan Hampton, as well as David if I had to pick a favorite it would be “Not clutter. His music’s uplifting attitude is fre- Crosby (yes, that David Crosby). Her band- Enough,” a new classic of drunken misery quently colored with wit. mates are an equally impressive lot, and that should be a candidate for country The legendary drummer, of course, boasts include bassist Chris Tordini, keyboardist song of the year. an exhaustive discography with the greats, Liam Robinson, drummer Jordan Perlson, Ordering info: sarahsiskind.com crowned by his numerous classics with Miles and the Attacca String Quartet. Hiromi Suda’s muse straddles the Davis, including Sketches Of Spain and the The one cover, Stevie Wonder’s “As,” is worlds of Japanese folk and bossa nova. an inspired choice for the album’s closer. On her album Nagi (Blujazz; 46:26 watershed Kind Of Blue. Cobb possesses the It’s a Collier home-studio production that HHH½)—the title means “calm”—she dis- drummer’s grail of perfect pulse placement, features hushed, coiled vocals by both plays a serene, quietly assured delivery. which can launch bands to swing heaven. His singers winding gracefully around each She couldn’t have hired a better co-pro- famed cymbal ride urges bands forward while other, backed by Stevens’ trademark play- ducer than the gifted jazz flutist Anne simultaneously offering a relaxed, gracious ing on the Andean charango and Collier’s Drummond. They assembled a superb foundation. The icing is his smooth sound and lush vocal harmonies. band including the great Romero Lubam- elegant understatement. A spry 87 at the time Ordering info: groundupmusic.net bo on guitar. The program is evenly split of this tracking, Cobb also delivers ample fire between Brazilian classics like Jobim’s Sarah Siskind’s new EP, Love (Self Re- when stepping out during trades and solos. lease, 20:24 HHHHH), is simplicity itself: “Triste” and Donato’s “A Rã,” and her own Though there are six decades between six new songs with her roots-rock trio Sun- poetic originals. Suda’s vocals on the Bra- liner. And it’s a knockout. zilian tunes are finely calibrated and dis- Cohen and his honored guest, the twain do Siskind cut her songwriting teeth pen- arming. On the face of it, Japanese folk indeed meet. —Jeff Potter ning hits for Alison Krauss (“Simple Love”), music and Brazilian music might seem to Masters Legacy Series Volume 1: On The Trail; Tin Tin Deo; Two Bass Hit; When I Fall In Love; Folk Song; Interlude; Flamingo; If Randy Travis and Bon Iver, among others, have little in common, but Suda makes it This Isn’t Love; Mr. Robinson; Hard Times; Concerto For Cob. (69:17) although these days she is best known for work. It’s well worth hearing. DB Personnel: Emmet Cohen, piano; Jimmy Cobb, drums; Yasushi Nakamura, acoustic bass; Godwin Louis, alto saxophone (5, 10). writing some 20 songs for the hit ABC-TV Ordering info: hiromisuda.com Ordering info: cellarlive.com 60 DOWNBEAT MAY 2017.