Magpie
TPR, 2024
9/10
The vocalist and composer Sarah Jerrom pens an involved listen, where an expanded jazz orchestra and 4 voices spread out across chamber and big band ideas.
“Part I: The Road” starts the listen with Jerrom’s stunning and powerful voice alongside Nancy Walker’s warm keys, before Ernesto Cervini’s drums enter the warm climate, and “Part II: For Joy” follows with intimate keys that lead into soulful brass, where plenty of rich horns enters the textured beauty.
In the middle, “Part IV” The White Elk” carries a distinct haze, as wordless voices build into an emotive display of soaring song craft, while “Part V: Nest Predator” showcases a tenor sax solo from Kirk MacDonald, though Rob McBride’s bass playing won’t go unnoticed either in the unpredictable album highlight.
Close to the end, “Part VII: The Mountain Cries” leads with bass acrobatics before dreamy keys and eloquent brass carries a cinematic quality, and “Part VIII: Crystalization” exits with soothing voices that harmonize before shifting into an upbeat and playful jazz finish.
An extremely well thought out and meticulous 86 minutes, the songs surround the stigma and taboo that comes with pregnancy loss, and it is as heartfelt as it is engaging.
Travels well with: Scott Marshall- The Solitude Suite; Mike Downes- The Way In