So Smooth, So Sweet
Navona, 2025
8/10
This first album from the soprano Chelsea Hart Melcher showcases her robust singing alongside Allen Sapp’s lyrical text via these 4 involved pieces.
“The Lady And The Lute” opens with Chelsea’s expressive and emotive soprano alongside Paul Melcher’s sophisticated piano across the 8 diverse chapters that can get animated, too.
In the middle, the frisky delivery of “Nursery Rhymes” offers 4 quick bouts of meticulous keys and rich vocals, while “Two Songs” enlists vivid storytelling and minimal moments of beauty and grace.
“Affliction” is the last selection, and spanning 11 chapters it allows for Chelsea’s powerful pipes to shine amid the warm and precise keys from Paul’s capable fingers.
An eloquent effort that embraces neoclassical ideas, English Renaissance poetry and whimsical, charming songwriting, Chelsea’s singing is stunning and the keys are equally enjoyable.
Travels well with: Allen Sapp- Live Piano Works; Paul Cohen- Nightfalls And Midnight Revels