The world of Mafalda Minnozzi is worth exploring just for the experience. Jazz has many patterns and styles, being a genre that is so elemental, improvisational. This exceptional musician brings a set of covers that are not only a salutation, but showcase her vocal ability and affinity for this fleeting genre as well. This album is called Natural Impression.
If an artist is naturally inclined to a certain field, there is a good chance they will excel in it. Mafalda Minnozzi does that exactly, with her album. Opening with Águas de Março, which is Elis Regina’s vocal masterpiece, you see the connect almost instantly. Swerving through the melodies, she showcases scatting with scale jumping that seems almost impossible. This is jazz education for anyone who is trying to understand this beautiful field for the rich embankment of knowledge it has. Começar de Novo by Ivan Lins is the second song, and compositionally sound. Even in arranging the album, Mafalda is making sure there is a natural waving flow in the music. Instrumentals surely stand out, creating a current of concoctions that is beautiful and engaging.
Mas Que Nada elevates this with a quicker tempo. There are very few who call themselves connoisseurs of jazz, and there are too many artists that go overlooked. Bringing the spotlight to her own talent, while showing the arrangements of these masters, is a superb move by Mafalda Minnozzi. This becomes more apparent with covers of songs like Useless Landscape. Though I follow jazz for the instrumental virtuosity that is expressed, there are songs and artists learnt from this album alone who I will follow forever.
Samba De Verão shows you the gem by Marcos Valle that has been sampled so many times by artists all over. It is a pandora’s box worth of knowledge that Mafalda Minnozzi is showing us through her love for jazz. Changing texture and tone, and her vocal elasticity, she brings a lot of love to this genre.
Ne Me Quitte Pas is this songbirds gem, at least one of them. Voted into many lists as one of the top indie jazz vocalists from Italy. You can instantly see why, coming from the unique sound and style she possesses. Adjusting instantly to quicker and slower songs, her penchant for being to absorb this style is magical. She can switch languages just as fast, and the only medium that matters seems to be the genre itself.
As you’ll explore this double album, you will have a whole range of musicians you might start following. Admiring an artist is one thing, creating something that pays respect and homage without tainting the quality is another. Mafalda Minnozzi has done that, and even elevated some performances. Though it is an old but classic movie, I can’t help but feel Mafalda’s vocals would be perfect in Ascenseur Pour L’Echafaud (1958). The story and theme make it an essential watch, just like this is an essential listen. Follow the artist above and listen to more of her music!
Links | Quality | Language | Player | Date Added |
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Play Now | Bandcamp |