(Reprinted from the January 2022 issue of New York City Jazz Record)
In June 2021, The Baylor Project released their second album, Generations, a batch of R&B-driven tracks, mostly originals. This joyful record claims a Grammy nomination for Best Vocal Jazz Album this year—the fourth Grammy nod for vocalist Jean and drummer Marcus Baylor, the duo at the project’s helm. What makes this musical partnership so exciting is their open-handed approach to gospel jazz, an impressive roster of collaborators and an astute business sense.
The new album doesn’t fit tidily into any one jazz category, but the powerful guest list hints at its expansive reach. Alto player Kenny Garrett embellishes the rousing opener “Strivin’”with breezy runs. Singers Dianne Reeves and Jazzmeia Horn swap relaxed, expert scats on “We Swing (The Cypher)”. Pianist Sullivan Fortner comps Jean (also a consummate scatter) on the alternately jaunty/swinging “Do You Remember This?”. And vocalist/drummer Jamison Ross settles into the soul ballad “Only Believe” in an aching duet with the lead singer.
All of this collaborative, talent-focused output didn’t escape notice at Motown Gospel, a division of Capitol CMG/Universal Music Group. Last December, the Christian music label extended a rare invitation to the jazz artists: an exclusive distribution agreement for Be A Light, the Baylors’ self-owned label and home for each of their award-nominated ventures.
On Grammy Day, Jan. 31, the Baylor Project will be squaring off against four other superb jazz artists for Best Vocal Jazz Album, among them multi-nominee Nnenna Freelon, for Time Traveler (Origin Records). With this recording, the former Concord artist shows how song can counter grief—her artistic response to the death of both her husband and her sister in 2019-2020.
She pulls most of the album’s repertoire from 1970s pop music—a Marvin Gaye medley, two tunes by Thom Bell and Linda Creed (“Betcha By Golly Wow, “You Make Me Feel Brand New”), a Jim Croce ballad (“Time In A Bottle”) and a Burt Bacharach hit (“I Say A Little Prayer”). Freelon infuses these songs with jazz feels and a disarming pathos; in this way she pulls emotional truth into the spotlight—but not to wallow. As she sings in the original title track, love exists in a timeless, indestructible place. We can always meet there.
Singer Kate McGarry also tackles the American pop cannon on her latest release, What To Wear In The Dark (Resilience Music Alliance)—similarly inspired by loss. In 2010, after the death of both of her parents and her father-in-law, McGarry found solace in the life-affirming lyrics of a Paul Simon tune. Since then, her interest in music as a mending tool has only grown, and in 2017 she laid down the first tracks of the 2021 album. Among them were incisive, modern arrangements of Simon’s “The 59th Street Bridge Song”, Don Henley’s “Desperado”, and Leonard Cohen’s “Anthem”. In later sessions, she would contemporize tunes like Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now”, Cat Stevens’ “On The Road To Find Out” and George Harrison’s “Here Comes The Sun”, tapping into each tune’s essential poignancy. As with Time Traveler, McGarry uses an original, “It Happens All The Time In Heaven”--her vocal setting for a love poem by 14C Persian poet Hafiz--to deliver a pointed message. How can we be more loving, she wonders?
Two other jazz notables found inspiration in the New American Songbook last year: singer Denise Donatelli partnered with producer Larry Klein to turn out Whistling In The Dark…the Music of Burt Bacharach (Savant), an engaging tribute to this seminal composer of mid-century pop music. Besides Bacharach, bassist/singer Nicki Parrot borrows lyrics and melodies from singer-songwriters like Dolly Parton, Don McLean, Carly Simon and Gordon Lightfoot for If You Could Read My Mind (Arbors Records). Her smooth understanding of these love songs reveals the surprising depth in their simple constructions.
Without question, the best VoxNews list of the year is always the vocalist lineup for the Winter Jazzfest. You’ll have to check the festival website for the where, but you can start here for the when. Samara Joy and Angel Bat Dawid on Jan. 13; Brianna Thomas, Jen Shyu, Alicia Olatuja, Sara Elizabeth Charles and Theo Bleckmann on Jan. 14; Thana Alexa, Melanie Charles, Kurt Elling, Camille Thurman, Faye Victor, and Alicia Olatuja on Jan. 15; Madison McFerrin on Jan. 16; and Sara Serpa, Aubrey Johnson and Sofia Rei on Jan. 22. If all of this talent isn’t too overwhelming, catch Veronica Swift at Blue Note Jan. 20-23.