Life Got In The Way
Self-Released, 2025
9/10
A Berklee College of Music graduate who is well versed in many genres of music, Heather McKay is joined by an all-star cast for these 9 songs written over 20 years that touch on Latin Jazz.
“You Make Me Smile” starts with Campbell Charshee’s lively keys alongside Peter Fraize’s animated sax and McKay’s playful guitar, and “Boo” follows with Leland Nakamura’s thumping drums that suit the rich and flowing climate.
In the middle, “Eleven Reasons Why” benefits from Leonardo Lucini’s frisky bass lines amid the cultured, textured jazz ideas, while “The Playground (Sammy, Elle and G)” make great use of Bruno Lucini’s strategic percussion that complements McKay’s warm guitar playing.
Close to the end, “Kenyan Moon” blends the meticulous rhythm section with colorful keys and soulful sax, and “Lucini In The Park” exits with the intricate guitar playing alongside an infectious melody that we won’t soon forget.
An effort that doesn’t lack any grooves, the songs capture the image of a place, person or moment in time and rarely reside in a conventional time signature, which only adds to the allure of the enlightening listen.
Travels well with: Shawn Purcell- Oblivity; Ben Clifton- Overlook