Scott Kinsey/Mer Sal

Adjustments

Blue Canoe, 2022

8/10

Listen to Adjustments

The keyboard wizard Scott Kinsey and stunning vocalist Mer Sal join forces here, and they’ve got Scott Henderson, Nir Felder, Oz Noy, Josh Smith, Alex Machacek, Pedro Martins, Steve Tavaglione, Jimmy Haslip, Tim Lefebvre, Hadrien Feraud, Gary Novak, Gergö Borlai, Danny Carey and many others along with them for the fusion affair.

“Tiny Circles” opens the listen with Sal’s strong pipes alongside Kinsey’s proficient keys and Carey’s agile drumming in the mature and soulful climate, and “Seroquel” follows with a thicker presence as the instruments mesh with a slight haunting feel amid the lush delivery.

Further into the listen, “This Shell” makes great use of spirited guitar in the bluesy demeanor, while “Crying Smile” ventures into dreamy territory as much atmosphere enters the cautiousness.

Approaching the end, “Fifty Circles Around The Sun” embraces a campfire-esque mood with its breezy melody and soft backing vocals, and “Don’t Let Go” exits the listen with Mer’s poetic vocals guiding a dynamic and exciting album highlight that’s gritty yet tuneful.

Let’s hope that Kinsey and Sal will collaborate again, cause their collective strength makes for an atypical and very captivating version of jazz that warrants multiple listens.

Travels well with: Steve Hunt- Connections; Vinnie Riccitelli- For The Record