Odd Bird
Self-Released, 2022
8/10
The vocalist and songwriter Ada Bird Wolfe penned 45 tunes in the year 2020, and she whittled it down to 12 for this very diverse set of love songs and nature focused themes.
“Odd Bird Bop” opens the listen with a charming energy that benefits from warm keys thanks to Jamieson Trotter, as Dan Lutz’s frisky bass lines complement the smoky alto singing, and “In The Shade” follows with a calmer pace of intimate songwriting that displays Wolfe’s expressive pipes.
Some of the best tracks land in the middle, including the playful and soulful sax acrobatics from Scott Mayo on “Lover’s Leap”, while “Samba Batucada” recreates the mood of being in Rio with a lover, where much culture enters the rhythmic and memorable landscape.
The extremely emotive “Ordinary Man” was inspired by the death of George Floyd, and pairs stirring keys with Wolfe’s powerful voice, and “An Egg” exits the listen with an upbeat and timeless demeanor that showcases the proficient drumming of Peter Buck.
Trotter was an integral part of the songwriting process with Wolfe, and the two would meet on Zoom weekly to flesh out the melodies, lyrics and arrangements. Add the other A-list Los Angeles musicians on hand, and it certainly helps solidify the affair as a superb effort in the area of cozy, romantic jazz.
Travels well with: Mark Winkler- Late Bloomin’ Jazzman; Dmitri Matheny- Cascadia