It’s My Turn To Color Now
Origin, 2022
8/10
Listen to It’s My Turn To Color Now
The Chicago resident Roberta Brenza makes quite an impression on this debut, where she’s accompanied by the producer/drummer Matt Wilson, pianist Dawn Clement, bassist Cameron Brown, and saxophonist Stacy Dillard, as well as the special guest and legendary vocalist Sheila Jordan.
The title track opens the listen with Brenza’s playful, inviting pipes alongside skilled bass and light drumming, as warm piano enter the agile jazz spirit, and “Song For My Father” follows with bright keys flowing alongside the radiant singing in the dreamy climate.
Closer to the middle, “Bebop Lives (Boplicity)” indeed bops with a frisky demeanor that’s quite fun and welcomes vocals from Jordan, while “Take Five” showcases the fluid sax prowess amid Brenza’s diverse pipes that make the jazz standard quite alluring.
Near to the end, the intimate and reflective “Estate” glides with a cultured presence that’s very pretty, and “Ballad Of The Paper Moon/It’s Only A Paper Moon” exits with an initially soft and vulnerable presence that builds into a poetic and stirring finish.
Brenza may have started her performing career later in life, but she’s quickly making up for lost time with these timeless interpretations and a pair of well thought out originals, something we’ll hopefully see more of on subsequent records.
Travels well with: Ben Patterson- The Way Of Groove; William Flynn- Seaside