Fairy Tale Fail
Rhythmus, 2023
9/10
The jazz vocalist Chloe Jean brings us covers and original music that comes with autobiographical lyrics, which makes for a very personal listen that enlists a large cast of musicians for the 11 timeless tracks.
“Black Sheep” opens the listen with Marc van Wageningen’s bouncy bass and Billy Johnson’s agile drums complementing Jean’s very expressive singing, and “Cry Me A River” follows with Mike Olmos’ warm flugelhorn and Peter Horvath’s moody keys that suit Jean’s soulful pipes.
Further along, “Don’t Know Why”, a song popularized by Norah Jones, sees a playful spin that welcomes Dan Feiszli’s frisky bass amid Jean’s breathing singing, while “Free” benefits much from Jason Lewis’ light drumming and Ray Obiedo’s dreamy guitar, not to mention the poetic vocals.
“Crazy”, which was recorded live, is a gorgeous original that shows how much Jean’s voice radiates outside the studio, too, and takes company from Colin Douglas’ cozy drumming, and the charming “Blues Skies” exits with just David K. Matthews’ acoustic piano and Jean’s versatile delivery making an indelible impression.
A breast cancer survivor, Jean’s will and dedication to all avenues of her life have kept her creativity intact and admirable, as evidenced by this captivating listen.
Travels well with: Ellie Martin- Verdant; Tatiana Eva-Marie- Two At The Most