Since her captivating debut in 2009, jazz vocalist Sylvia Brooks has displayed a gift for inhabiting different personas, with a subspecialty in film-noir inspired femmes fatale. On this – Signature (Rhombus Records) – her fourth album, she embraces the most challenging role of all, defining herself with a set of beautifully crafted original songs. Her evocative lyrics and emotionally direct delivery imbue the music with hard-won authenticity. Whether looking back with wry affection on her walk-on-the-wild-side youth or lamenting a lost love, Brooks brings bracing honesty and poise to the material.
Why No Two Live Jazz Performances Ever Sound Exactly the Same
Imagine listening to your favorite jazz track in a small dimly-lit club. You know the melody well enough to probably anticipate the next part. Suddenly, though, the pianist makes an unexpected move, the bassist responds with a light-hearted beat, and the vocalist...
