NASLOV Alma Micic - The Hours
ETIKETA 2008,CTA Records
MUZICARI
Alma Micic: vocals; Brandon McCune: piano, Fender Rhodes `(7); Sean Conley: bass; Gregory Hutchinson: drums; Riley Bandy: alto sax (1, 4); Rale Micic: acoustic guitar
NUMERE
1.Threads 6:38
2.Long Way Home 4:53
3.Hours 4:41
4.Holy Holy Holy 4:24
5.April in Paris 3:40
6.Through the Night 3:49
7.Star 4:08
8.Oj Djevojko Milijana 5:05
9.Lullaby 4:53
10.Sweet Sweet Spirit 5:51
INFO
1)Alma Micic was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia. At the age of 16 she started performing with a local quartet at a time when jazz was making a big comeback in Belgrade. Soon she became a frequent guest vocalist with the Radio Belgrade Big Band and began touring and appearing at many local jazz festivals as well as television and radio broadcasts. In 1995, she received a scholarship to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Alma graduated in 1999 with a BM in Jazz Performance.
Alma has been a resident of New York City since 2000. She has appeared at prominent venues such as the Jazz Standard, Scullers, as well as various international festivals and concert halls. Her first album “Introducing Alma”, hailed as “a striking debut” by Jazz Review, received radio airplay throughout the US, including Voice of America, XM Satellite Radio and international radio stations in South America, Japan and Europe. Alma Micic was also featured in a one hour NPR/WGBH Radio special “The Jazz Songbook”.
Alma’s singing has been described as “confident, soulful, vulnerable, rhythmically savvy, with the most sensual vibrato you're likely to hear” (All About Jazz). Featured articles include Swing Journal (Japan), Concerto Magazine (Austria), Jazzman and Citizen Jazz (France). She has received numerous awards such as the Cleo Laine Award for Outstanding Musicianship and BRIO Award from the NY Arts Council. Alma's highly anticipated new album “The Hours” beautifully displays her songwriting and arranging talents in addition to her exquisite singing.
2)There are no doubts about it. Alma Micic (Mee-cheech) is a first rate jazz singer. On her debut album, Introducing Alma (CTA, 2004), she opened some doors with her seductive style working the Great American Songbook. Giving no hint of what was to follow, the release of The Hours raises the bar, leaving no hesitation about where this vocalist is headed.
The Hours is far from the type of breakthrough bestseller that one might intimate. It is thematically the very opposite of what Micic's debut album was. Here, all but one of the tracks is in English with a single Montenegrin traditional tune sung as on the earlier session. However, of the remaining compositions, all but two have been written or co-written by Micic. These songs are, for the most part, spiritual in nature, and whether this faith-based music works in a jazz context or detracts from it is uncertain. While these words could easily have been sung by Amy Grant or Kathy Troccoli, here the presentation is completely different.
It is an almost eerie experience to connect the message of the lyrics with the jazz delivery. If Betty Carter or Chris Connor were delivering a message of faith, would the final result be any less? Micic's shading and familiarity with the music creates a sense of ease and reassurance.
When, midway through the album, Micic roars through a version of "April in Paris"—the only generally familiar song—it is a refreshing, and up-tempo visit to another planet, where the singer nails the melody and settles into a comfortable and assured scat. It is almost as if she were winking to the listener, saying "Yeah, I can do that easy!"
Certainly, as in the case of her first album, the musical cast contributes mightily to the finished product. Her pianist, Brandon McCune, proves again to be a first-rate accompanist and soloist with lots of the same Red Garland block chording. Bassist Sean Conley and drummer Gregory Hutchinson make this one cooking rhythm section. Altoist Riley Bandy adds some punch to his two appearances, while Macic's husband Rale plays acoustic guitar on the singer's performance of the Montenegrin folk song, "Oj Djevojko Milijana."
Describing an album this eclectic can be difficult, but one listen to The Hours and Macic's distinctive approach becomes crystal clear.
Track Listing: Threads; Long Way Home; Hours; Holy Holy Holy; April In Paris; Through the Night; Star; Oj Djevojko Milijana; Lullaby; Sweet Sweet Spirit.
Personnel: Alma Micic: vocals; Brandon McCune: piano, Fender Rhodes `(7); Sean Conley: bass; Gregory Hutchinson: drums; Riley Bandy: alto sax (1, 4); Rale Micic: acoustic guitar
