Heartbeat
Self-Released, 2019
9/10
A Serbian jazz singer with a voice that can fit just about any situation, on Heartbeat, Jelena Jovovic’s first album as a leader, she offers 6 originals and 4 interpretations with an impressive band backing her.
“Witch Hunt” starts the album with nearly 9 minutes of Jovovic’s expressive vocals on the Wayne Shorter tune where saxophones and rhodes are in attendance, and “Paladin” follows with agile keys on the graceful traditional folk song turned jazz fun.
Elsewhere, horns invade “The Countless Stars”, where cultured Balkan rhythms help make this one of the best selections, and the bop friendly and playful “Bubu’s Song”, which is immediately memorable.
Near the end, “Time Is Here” recruits a warm and lounge feel to the sophisticated track, and “Pools” ends the listen with a dance friendly and percussively strong finish with backing vocals on the Latin flavored exit.
Jovovic and company put a unique spin on traditional jazz with her European heritage intact here, making Heartbeat one of the best jazz focused listens of 2019.
Travels well with: Dianne Reeves- Bridges; Sarah Vaughan- A Time In My Life