Back in 2009, when reviewing the CD ‘Pretty World’ from vocalist Anne Walsh, I described her voice as being as clear as a bell and the album as a wonderful amalgam of buoyant Brazilian jazz grooves and poignant heart tugging ballads. Now Walsh has built on this winning formula with her latest release, the sublimely accessible ‘Go’. Again produced by her husband Thomas Zink, this sumptuous collection also features contributions from some of the finest session players around including Brian Bromberg on acoustic bass and the invariably excellent Garry Meek on saxes and flute.
Walsh gets the show on the road with a fine rendition of the Brasil 66 hit ‘Cinnamon & Clove’ for which Zink on piano is outstanding and later, when she again raids the Brasil 66 back catalog, the totally invigorating ‘Batucada’ proves to be just as good. It is one of two tracks performed by Walsh in Portuguese and the other is the totally magical ‘Melanie’ that, it is rumored, was discovered by Walsh via the social networking site Linkedin.
Pleasing flirtations with the Great American Songbook reveal stunning interpretations of Cole Porter’s ‘So In Love’ and the Rogers & Hart masterpiece ‘Bewitched’ but when the spotlight switches to Burt Bacharach’s ‘South American Getaway’ Walsh’s melodic handling of this familiar tune is a delight. Much the same can be said of her sensitive take on ‘Cascade of The Seven Waterfalls’ that was originally recorded by Latin jazz trio Azymuth. The song is given a considerable makeover by the addition of Walsh’s own lyrics and another number to undergo a similar transformation is the title cut where Wayne Shorter’s music is embellished by words from one of Walsh’s long time collaborators Joe DeRenzo
Of the original compositions, the hugely evocative ‘Bumble Bee’ is a charming throwback to the music of the thirties while the tenderly jazzy ‘Spring’s Unfold’ and the equally contemplative ‘Je Vousem Beaucoup’ are both wonderfully reflective gems. This latter tune is from the pen of Richard Stekol and when he repeats the feat for the exquisitely deconstructed ‘I’ll Wish For You’ he helps deliver what is arguably the album’s best track. Aided by the backing of a terrific string quartet and with fine muted trumpet from Tony Guerrero this is a song that can be perfectly summed up as beauty personified.
‘Go’ is out now and, for those who enjoy their Latin music served up on a melodic platter, is a must.