Italian-born pianist and vocalist
Daniela Schächter was already playing professionally as a teenager in her homeland, but her love of jazz drew her away from her classical studies to move to the United States to study at the Berklee College of Music on a scholarship. Her second CD as a leader features nine compelling post-bop originals, along with her inventive arrangement of the standard "On a Clear Day" that showcases both her vocals (including some delightful scatting) and superb scoring of the horns and reeds. Throughout the sessions,
Schächter displays the confidence and chops of a seasoned musician far beyond her age, accompanied by a strong rhythm section consisting of bassist Oleg Osenkov and drummer
Gene Jackson. She shows off her considerable chops in her turbulent "Incrocio," also spotlighting tenor saxophonist
Jimmy Greene and
Jackson.
Schächter's other vocal feature, her ballad "Terra Madre," adds a strong solo by trumpeter
Alex Sipiagin. Tenor saxophonist
Walter Smith lll subs for
Greene on two tracks, including the dreamy "The Moon and the Fisherman" (adding a fine solo by guitarist Davide Schächter and the lush "The Boat and the Storm" (the latter also adding veteran trumpeter
Tiger Okoshi and a soft wordless vocal by the leader in the background). Highly recommended!