For What It’s Worth
Grooves, 2020
8/10
The always impressive Rebecca Angel puts a very playful spin on the classic protest song “For What It’s Worth”, that Buffalo Springfield popularized way back in the mid ‘60s.
The tune leads with playful basslines from Reggie Washington as Angel’s sultry, smooth vocals guide Dennis Angel’s warm trumpet and frisky percussion by Bashiri Johnson as a jazz friendly tone takes over the superbly textured climate.
Angel took inspiration from the Brazilian influenced recordings of Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 on this interpretation, and it’s relevance to today’s systemic racism won’t be lost on anyone living in America. Angel, who resides in Manhattan, has been experiencing the protests firsthand, and is making her voice heard, literally, through her always flourishing song craft on this excellent single.
Travels well with: Rebecca Hennessy- All The Little Things You Do; Malin Pettersen- Wildhorse