Jazzy Italian
Zoho, 2022
8/10
Although she grew up in New York, the jazz singer Vanessa Racci has familial roots in Italy, and her upbringing in that culture certainly influences the brassy, dramatic and swing friendly sounds of this sophomore album.
“Betcha/Getcha” starts the listen with Mark Lewandowski’s playfully plucked bass and Racci’s frisky scatting, as Glafkos Kontemeniotis’ piano enters the warm and charming climate, and “Volare” follows with a very pretty and cultured delivery, where Racci sings in italian alongside Danny Conga Valdez’s agile congas and Sam Dillon’s bright sax.
“Make Love To Me” lands in the middle and emits a very romantic spirit that benefits from soulful brass and Racci’s diverse pipes, while “I’m A Fool To Want You” is quite intimate, and showcases so much beauty from Racci’s stirring voice.
Deeper still, “September In The Rain” is quite stylish, and blends the soothing vocals with light drumming from Charles Goold amid the meticulous finger acrobatics on piano, and the aptly titled “At Last” exits with a fuller demeanor that’s steeped in a timeless jazz appeal where Racci’s voice soars high.
A great mix of originals and intepretations, Racci, along with the arrangers Steven Feifke and Kontemeniotis, make for a harmonic, creative and fusion filled listen that we won’t soon forget.
Travels well with: Diana Panton- Solstice/Summer; Aimée Allen- Love & The Catalyst