Water Is My Song
Clarion, 2024
8/10
The inimitable vocalist Synia Carroll assembles songs tied to water, where a large cast of musicians accompany her for the 10 vocal jazz selections.
“Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea” starts the listen with Carroll’s bright pipes alongside Kenny Davis’ fluid bass lines and Houston Person’s soulful tenor sax, and “Child Of The Times” follows with Jerome Jennings’ agile drumming and Westey Lima De Amorim’s warm guitar that complements the cozy vocals.
At the halfway point, “Learning How To Fly” recruits Cafe’s cultured percussion for the rhythmic and rich landscape, while “Afro Blue” spotlights Aaron Heick’s reed prowess amid Beatriz Hernandez’s background vocals and no lack of Afro-Cuban nods.
Close to the end, “Norwegian Wood” allows for John Di Martino’s elegant keys to accent the dreaminess, and “The Water Is Wide” exits with Will Galison’s well timed harmonica adding much to the sublimeness of the album’s best.
A native to Philadelphia, Carroll is now a regular on the south Florida jazz scene, and she brings swing, folk, and plenty of worldly flavor to these timeless tunes.
Travels well with: Adam Hersh- Tornado Watch; Curtis Taylor- Taylor Made