Free
Cellar, 2026
8/10
The Bulgarian-Canadian vocalist, poet and songwriter Gergana Velinova is joined by an all-start cast for these 10 songs that evolved across 5 transformative years.
The title track opens with Velinova’s bright vocal scatting alongside Joel Fountain’s frisky drums and Jon Bentley’s rich sax, and “Orange Moon” follows with Kristian Alexandrov’s colorful vibes that suits the dreamy climate and Velinova’s expressive voice.
“Keep Walking” and “A Star” land in the middle. The former is an upbeat moment that’s playful and recruits Miles Hills’ skilled bass, while the latter is a cozy delivery of heartfelt singing and gentle instrumentation.
Arriving much later, “A Song About Stones” spotlights Cory Weeds’ well timed sax amid the animated keys and adaptable vocals, and “ Come A Little Closer” finishes with Alexandrov’s sublime keys that matches the mesmerizing singing.
Musically, Velinova touches on jazz, pop, Bossa Nova and blues ideas, and her strong vocal performance makes its way straight to your heart and soul.
Travels well with: Laurent Ziliani- Anyone Can Whistle: A Sondheim Journey; María Dueñas- Paganini 24: Caprices