Back At The Bop Stop
Self-Released, 2023
8/10
Listen to Back At The Bop Stop
The powerful jazz vocalist Maria Jacobs illuminates some of her favorite standards and also brings a few originals to these mostly live tracks from early 2022.
“Up Jumped Spring” opens the listen with playful vocal scatting that segues into smooth singing alongside Rock Wehrmann’s warm piano and Bryan Thomas’ skilled bass lines, and “You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To” follows with Jamey Haddad’s agile drumming complementing Jacobs’ very diverse delivery.
Elsewhere, “Infatuation” benefits much from the graceful keys and intimate singing via Jacobs’ very capable pipes in the original, while “Never Will I Marry” bops and shakes with a lively energy that will get your body moving to the upbeat jazz flavor.
The final 2 tracks are studio bonus material, where “Blue Moon” welcomes Bobby Selvaggio’s soulful sax to the dreamy climate, and “Pale Moon, Blue Sky” exits with a rich and busy landscape that showcases Chris Anderson’s trombone, Jack Schantz’s trumpet, and Aidan Plank’s frisky keys.
An often swinging affair, the live portion with the excellent trio sure does sound great, and the studio tunes with a full band are impressive, too. Jacobs has a career that includes playing jazz, R&B, pop and Christian music, and she brings those experiences to a very charming and memorable listen.
Travels well with: Jackie Messina- Necessary Arrangements; Katherine Farnhma-Alquimia