Gretchen Parlato is a rising star in vocal jazz circles of the 2000s who everyone should pay attention to and enjoy. Her singing is pure sterling silver, accented with just a hint of ethnic shadings and a big helping of modern style that goes well beyond standard fare. As alluring, distinct, and mature as her youthful instrument is, she deserves extra credit for choosing some of the most interesting young players who also are ascending to major-league status. Guitarist/vocalist
Lionel Loueke, keyboardist
Aaron Parks, bassist
Derrick Hodge, and drummer
Kendrick Scott are all leaders in their own right, but add bright and inventive accompaniment that perfectly matches the pristinely hopeful sounds
Parlato expresses. The music taps from many sources, including a cute vocal variation of
Herbie Hancock's funky "Butterfly,"
Wayne Shorter's "E.S.P." with rain forest imagery, scat, and quirky 6/8 beats, or
Duke Ellington's "Azure" in adapted 5/4 time with
Loueke's guitar and
Hodge in late.
Stevie Wonder's "I Can't Help It" is a pining, crossover, Latin-tinged love song as
Parlato sings and
Loueke scats and add mouth pops, while
Dori Caymmi's skittering "Doralice" is easily representative of expanded tropicalia sensuality.
Parks, much like his peer
Robert Glasper, has the modern spirit song, loose-repeat-phrased-and-deep-harmonic piano style down pat. As you listen to the
Glasper/
Parlato joint composition "In a Dream," or the 7/8 meter of "Turning into Blue," you are enveloped in this thin veneer of cloudy, dream sequence sound that identifies the heart and soul of these unique musicians. "Weak" turns this concept into a rock/funk beat emphasized by Fender Rhodes electric piano juxtaposing choppy rhythms versus
Parlato's sweet voice, whereas "On the Other Side" flips the script in a shuffle with percussion in shades of renewal and retrial. A muffled, taped recording of
Parlato singing at age two is tacked on two tracks, emphasizing the growth curve she has experienced, but more so how she appreciates the child-like wonder that her music clearly retains.
Gretchen Parlato is going to be a major player on the contemporary vocal music scene, jazz or not.
In a Dream already shows vast potential realized, and is easily recommended to those who appreciate vocal music with an instrumentalist's concept. ~ Michael G. Nastos