Emi’s Song
EJA, 2024
8/10
The pianist and harmonica player Neil Adler brings along Jeff Buenz, Akira Tana and Carlitos Medrano to these worldly songs that touch on jazz in uplifting and memorable ways.
The title track starts the listen with Adler’s warm keys and bright harmonica guiding the melodic climate, and “Besame Mucho” follows with dancing piano amid crisp drumming from Tana that suits the global energy.
Further along, “Blues For McCoy” is a thoughtful moment of meticulous keys that builds into a dense delivery that hints at rock and puts Medrano’s congos to good use, while “The Peacocks” benefits much from the dreamy harmonica and Buenz’s atmospheric bass lines.
Near the end, “Los Tres Golpes” blends the piano and harmonica with strong attention to detail and much color, and “Donna Lee” exits with a solo harmonica delivery that’s quite impressive and memorable.
Adler’s formative years involved jazz, Motown, and R&B, and those influences are still present across this eclectic and fusion filled effort.
Travels well with: Stan Harrison- Some Poor Soul Has A Fire; Andy Ezrin- I Was Here