Jazz is in the air! Three of today’s leading ladies of contemporary jazz have new releases.
Saxophonist Jessy J has been a bright light on the smooth jazz scene since releasing her debut album three years ago. Her latest effort, Hot Sauce, taps into her Latin influences on such tracks as “Meant To Be.” It also includes Will Young’s pop hit “Leave Right Now,” Duke Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood,” and eight originals. According to Jessy, who was born Jessica Spinella in Portland, Oregon, the “J” in Jessy J stands for Jazz.
Jazz fusion and classical music come together on a new album by Japanese pianist Hiromi called Voice.
Hiromi was introduced to jazz at age eight, and at 14, performed with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. After a brief stint as a law student in Tokyo, she came to the U.S. to study jazz at the Berklee College of Music. She was offered her first recording contract while still attending Berklee.
Hiromi’s Voice features The Trio Project, with Anthony Jackson on bass and Simon Phillips on drums.
Drummer Terri Lyne Carrington delivers one of the most ambitious albums of the year, The Mosaic Project. The collection features some of today’s best and brightest female jazz singers and instrumentalists. Among them, vocalists Dee Dee Bridgewater, Cassandra Wilson and Dianne Reeves, pianist Geri Allen, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, percussionist Sheila E, and this year’s Grammy Award winner for Best New Artist, singer and bassist Esperanza Spalding on the track “Crayola.”
