With the soon to be released ‘Krazy Love’ vocalist Luba Mason is all set to continue her foray into the world of sophisticated contemporary cross-over jazz. Eight of her own compositions serve to create a distinctive and fiercely personal sound that is anchored in melody and further enhanced by an incredible line-up of backing musicians which include Yellowjackets bass player Jimmy Haslip. In fact the sultry title cut says everything about this sumptuous ten track collection that takes the complexities of modern day relationships as its theme and presents them with a tantalizingly cool Brazilian mood. The feeling of being wrapped in a warm comforting blanket is never far away yet the Latin buzz that permeates every song brings with it a sun drenched satisfaction.
‘Lovely’ has a theatrical aura that perhaps betrays the considerable success Mason has enjoyed on Broadway. Roles in ‘Chicago’, ‘Sunset Boulevard’ and ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ have all served to boost her standing in this field as has playing opposite Mathew Broderick as sex bomb Hedy LaRue in the celebrated ‘How To Succeed In Business’. Mason also happens to be married to Latin superstar Ruben Blades and he combines with her for the exquisite duet ‘And It Is With You I Go’. It oozes romance and when for ‘This House’ she is joined by legendary flautist Hubert Laws he adds to it a generous sprinkle of his special magic.
The mellow ‘Gorgeous Fool’ is rendered more so by wonderfully understated trombone from Andy Martin and in addition is blessed by subtle keys from Renato Neto. Truth to tell Neto is colossal throughout and makes a particularly telling contribution with ‘Reunion’ for which Mason’s contemporary jazz inflections are suited to perfection. Elsewhere the pent up drama of ‘From Me To You’ fits well with that of ‘Othos nos Othes’ which, sung in Portuguese, possesses an atmospheric quality all its own.
‘A Summer Night’ is quite simply beauty personified and clearly one of the albums best tracks. However, right up there with it is ‘Xmas In July’ which is made yet more memorable by the excellent guitar of Sandro Albert. ‘Krazy Love’ will be released on January 27 and deserves to do well. For more go to www.lubamason.com
