Aire
Sunnyside, 2023
8/10
The Mexican jazz singer and composer Magos Herrera sings songs in English, Spanish and Portuguese here, where she takes all the overwhelming feelings during the pandemic and turns them into worldly jazz songs.
The title track opens with much beauty, where Herrera’s gorgeous voice is met with Gonzalo Grau’s chekeré and plenty of soaring and elegant strings, and “Gracias a la Vida” follows with Vinicius Gomez’s warm acoustic guitar and Ingrid Jensen’s soulful trumpet helping make for a rich and intimate delivery.
In the middle, the dreamy keys from Blair McMillen are met with the expressive and poetic singing of “Alfonsina Y El Mar”, while “Obra Filhia” moves with a frisky pace of playful drumming from Alex Kautz and Sam Minaie’s strategic bass in the album’s best.
Landing near the end, “Papalote” blends orchestral and jazz qualities into the melodic and textured climate, and “Healer” exits with Grau’s cajon, palmas and jaleos complementing the breezy, cinematic and flowing finish.
An extremely detailed listen that recruits The Knights, i.e. Colin and Eric Jacobsen, plus many players on strings, winds, brass and piano, there are 20+ musicians supporting Herrera for the cultured Samba and Bossa Nova friendly jazz that is globally embraceable.
Travels well with: Annabelle Chvostek- String Of Pearls; Malika Zarra- RWA (The Essence)