Known mostly as a brilliant interpreter of 20th-century songs, Cécile McLorin Salvant has never made an album as heavy on original tunes, nor as stylistically adventurous, as this one. Her voice soars over Andrew Lloyd Webber-level pipe organ in one moment, and settles warmly into a combo featuring banjo, flute and percussion in the next.
Photo Credit: John Watson
New York native Catherine Russell performed in London for the first time at Dean Street Pizza Express on the final night of this year’s EG London Jazz Festival, bringing to a close more than fifty gigs in their three London venues. Russell is the daughter of Panama-born Luis Russell (1902-1963), legendary pianist and bandleader and most notably the long-time musical director for Louis Armstrong. Her mother was well-known singer, Carline Ray. And in most interviews she is asked about her work with Steely Dan and Donald Fagen from the 1990s onwards, and with David Bowie in 2002-4.
She brought her drummer-less trio of piano, guitar and bass to promote songs from her most recent release on Dot Time, Send for Me. She’s also been nominated for 2 Grammy Awards for her albums Harlem on My Mind and Alone Together.
Best Jazz Vocal Album:
Ghost Song – Cécile McLorin Salvant
Fifty – The Manhattan Transfer
Best Arrangement, Instrument and Vocals:
“Optimistic Voices / No Love Dying” – Cécile McLorin Salvant
Best Latin Jazz Album:
Rhythm & Soul – Arturo Sandoval
Best Regional Roots Music Album:
Live At The 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – Ranky Tanky
Best Opera Recording:
Fire Shut Up In My Bones – Terence Blanchard