Horns Of Hope
Chronograph, 2024
8/10
The Calgary singer Aimee-Jo Benoit returns with a sophomore album, where The New Assembly helps flesh out songs about hope and heartbreak.
“Barefoot” starts the listen with warm brass, as Daniel Gaucher’s fluid drums complement Benoit’s expressive pipes, and “Bird On A Wire” follows with soulful horns amid the very eloquent singing.
The middle belongs to “Little Green”, where Mark De Jong’s elegant sax emits much beauty in the intimate delivery, while “Moon At The Window” showcases Mark Limacher’s meticulous piano playing that suits the frisky mood and diverse range from Benoit’s pipes.
Close to the end, “You Were There” benefits much from DeJong’s bass clarinet for a highly emotive and soft album highlight, and “Free” exits with the sublime keys and flawless singing meeting at very sophisticated and timeless intersection.
Benoit’s experience during Covid largely sets the mood of this album, and the careful attention to detail sure does strike a cord with the listener and will certainly captivate fans of vocal jazz.
Travels well with: The Way Back Whens- Live At The Yardbird Suite; Audrery Ochoa- The Head Of A Mouse