Dancing In Darkness
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
The San Francisco jazz vocalist Laura Karst brings us a sophomore album of solo jazz vocals, where an international selection of composers unfolds with her diverse jazz vision on display.
“It’s Your Dance” opens the listen with Karst’s bright and pretty voice alongside Greg German’s playful drumming, and “Errática” follows with Walter Bankovitch’s warm piano complementing Karst’s very expressive singing in the lush climate.
Deeper into the listen, “Footprints” focuses much on mood amid the dynamic drums and key interaction, while “Busy Being Blue” emits much intimacy between the graceful keys and Karst’s poetic pipes.
Near to the end, “A Dream Come True” uses subtle but effective brass from Modesto Briseno in the timeless, cultured jazz demeanor, and “Quiet Afternoon” exits the listen with soft, wordless vocals, as the textured horns, drums and keys are quite dreamy, even stirring.
An artist with a wealth of talent and experience, Karst navigates around these songs with much charm that embraces swing, bebop, ballads, Latin, modern, and fusion, and it’s all executed with incredible attention to detail.
Travels well with: Marilyn Scott- The Landscape; Melbreeze- I Love Paris