Awakening
Zoho, 2022
8/10
The saxophone wizard Marco Pignataro documents a virtual live concert at Boston’s GBH Fraser Studio from 2021, and he’s got Kenny Werner (piano, backing vocals), Nadia Washington (vocals, guitar), and Devin Gates (bass, vocals) along for the chamber-jazz filled affair that’s lyrically very rich.
“Send One Of Your Love” opens the listen with gorgeous, expressive singing alongside warm and light guitar and subtle keys in the romantic climate, and “Resilience Of Light” follows with carefully plucked bass and finger snapping populating the spoken word and soulful singing.
Halfway through, “Still Winter” recruits playful sax, strategic bass and plenty of alluring poetry, while “Alone Again Naturally” brings much calm melody thanks to the flowing brass, agile keys and eloquent singing.
Moving towards the end, “Ode To The Wounded Clouds” pairs the stirring sax and graceful keys with a dreamy voice, and “Moon Threads Prologue: At Night” finishes with just Pignataro’s inviting sax keeping us enthralled.
A listen that’s just as exceptional musically as it is lyrically, Pignataro and company certainly do justice to the Stevie Wonder, Beatles, and Ben E. King covers, and the harmonic and lush originals on this very accomplished record will impress, too.
Travels well with: Dawn Derow- My Ship: Songs From 1941; Alexis Cole- Sky Blossom: Songs From My Tour Of Duty