The Summer Tree
In Mono, 2022
9/10
A fusion friendly outfit from St. Paul, Minnesota, the vocalist and keyboardist Sharisse ‘Jermaine’ Germaine spearheads Jojo Green, and this follow up EP to their 2021 debut album, The Line, has the outfit offering 5 more rich, creative and diverse tunes.
The title track opens the listen with bright sax guiding the warm melodies and Nancy Long’s crisp drumming, where the setting gets a bit thicker with dense guitar from Conner Allen , and “Fire Escape” follows with a dance floor ready funk appeal that benefits much from Germain’s glowing, soulful pipes.
“Billie” occupies the middle spot and showcases Scott Yonke’s strategic bass amid the stylish, retro energy, while “Station” gets intimate in its poetic demeanor that’s powerful, eloquent and full of well timed keys, stirring brass and hypnotic bass.
“Tennessee” exits the listen, and it bops and shakes with an infectious quality that’s fusion at its finest, where jazz, rock and funk meet at a very exciting intersection.
A listen that embraces pop, rock, country, jazz, soul and funk, Jojo Green might be a relatively new band, but they deliver like seasoned vets and will be sure to make an indelible impression with anyone willing to give a listen.
Travels well with: Lake Street Dive- Free Yourself Up; Sister Sparrow- Gold