Nathalie Blanc & Philippe Petrucciani- Let's Have a Walk
Nathalie Blanc will help you experience some premium jazz. Scatting, instrumental superiority and style aside, the charm from her music is gorgeous. She keeps up with the most complex of sequences and moments-and it is glorious to feel. I introduce you to her latest single with Philippe Petrucciani, Let’s Have a Walk. You know how a walk has organic pace? Not when you’re exercising, when you’re walking in conversation. Your tempo seems to mirror conversation, your mood and general pace. Nathalie Blanc does that, with her voice. To witness and hear it is magic in itself, so I encourage you to draw in all the different depths she goes into with her stylish scatting. We’re talking about circle of fifth jumps and alternating melody patterns that might not even coincide the next time. Her delivery is precise, yet carries the light air of a stroll in the park. As a listener, you’re being subjected to vocal jazz heaven right now. Pay enough attention, and you might see the notes move in front of you. Philippe Petrucciani does some amazing work on the instrumentals, bringing a real world of jazz heaven to your eardrums. Their album Remember Petrucciani is one to remember for the indie jazz lovers here. Their lucid compositions, aesthetic styles and magic is truly worth admiring. This track would be perfect in the movie In Bruges (2008), with the kind of transitions that hold the storytelling together. You can listen to their single above, and follow them for more music like this!
Mafalda Minnozzi-Natural Impression
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!
Ari Joshua-The Clinic
Ari Joshua and his thunderous trio are back. True aficionados of music, this man makes music as often as he breathes. A purveyor of jazz, showcasing its versatility and essence, there is nothing these guys can’t play. This one is called The Clinic, and it's taking us to the doctor’s one step at a time. In each song, someone gets to shine really bright for more than a moment. In this one, the synth gets the first kick, while the rest of the band becomes a melodic spine. Ari Joshua and his trio have some of the greatest chemistry you’ll hear. Not only does this translate live, but in recordings of their incredible tracks. The saxophone solo takes you by surprise, taking up some reverb volume and magical notes, showing you how classy a song can get. When the guitars come in, the song is ripe for a solo pocket. The track is an amalgam of some of the tightest spaces in indie jazz history. Ari Joshua has more than made a name for himself, making some of the most tantalising tracks man could ever hear. Welcome to the clinic, this is where you’re treated to true jazz medicine. The trio and Ari make this worth your while as usual, having a smidgen of psychedelic experience through notes. This would be perfect in Ocean’s Twelve (2007), especially the robbery montage, which needs instrumental suave to be oozing in every note. Check out Ari’s track above and follow him for more!