Love & The Catalyst
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
The vocalist and songwriter Aimée Allen brings us 12 well thought out and careful jazz tunes, where Toru Dodo, Francois Moutin, Kush Abadey, Tony Romano and Noah Allen complement her stunning pipes.
“Little Sunflower” starts the listen with playful bass lines from Moutin and warm keys that present a very charming wild vs calm dynamic as Allen’s soulful pipes guide the timeless jazz climate, and “Earth Is Waiting” follows with soft guitar from Romano, as a very pretty, poetic delivery ensues.
Trumpet makes an appearance from Noah Allen on the highly atmospheric and stirring Chick Corea medley “Crystal Silence/500 Miles High”, while “Love’s Crescendo” finds a very romantic place to reside with its soothing musicianship and Allen’s gorgeous pipes.
Deep on the back half, “Man Ripples Through Time” illustrates graceful keys from Dodo in the dreamy climate, and “World’s Collide” exits the listen with twinkling piano and Abadey’s brushed drums in a very eloquent and memorable finish.
A very diverse and familiar body of work, Allen’s voice is often sweet, can also ache and presents so much flow as she weaves in and out of compositions we won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: Leticia Walker- Lit From Within; Marilyn Scott- The Landscape