Quenara
Commonwealth Ave., 2023
9/10
Robert Prester’s esteemed keys and Adriana Samargia’s stunning voice come together again, and the time it involves 7 standards, 4 Prester originals and a Howard Jones cover for an unpredictable and charming listen.
The ‘80s smash “Things Can Only Get Better” begins the track, and the legendary song only gets better with Prester’s agile keys and Samargia’s soaring, powerful voice hitting some very high notes, and “Altar Ego”, an original, follows with a stirring dreaminess from the keys, as the soulful singing emits much emotion.
Deeper into the affair, “Stolen Moments” showcases Prester’s impressive finger acrobatics amid Samargia’s diverse pipes, while “Body And Soul” uses charming scatting and playful yet cautious interaction between the duo’s inimitable talents.
Approaching the end, “Sophisticated Lady” is indeed a mature interpretation of the Duke Ellington classic that’s richly creative, and Prester’s “Quenara” exits with a bit of a haunting quality alongside the extremely captivating singing and phrasing.
Prester’s been at the piano since the age of 3 and has 4 jazz albums to his credit. Samargia’s journey began in the area of Balkan folk, before finding her voice in jazz harmony. Together, they birth a piano-vocal duet that you won’t soon forget and will certainly revisit often.
Travels well with: Robert Prester & Adriana Samargia- First Snow; Laila Faerman- Awake! Arise!