tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:/blogs/flor-reviews?p=1Flor reviews2022-05-10T20:54:59-07:00gretchen parlato falsetag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/69683212022-04-28T00:00:00-07:002023-10-16T08:00:03-07:00Vocal Album of the Year International — Gretchen Parlato FLOR<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/1fc7aca8446eb57e0137f5b514d7458ca6e4c94d/original/screen-shot-2022-04-27-at-12-01-46-pm.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/69066102022-01-03T00:00:00-08:002022-02-25T09:31:29-08:0010 Best Jazz Albums of 2021 — Global Circulate<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="Gretchen Parlato - Flor" />#5 Gretchen Parlato – Flor </p>
<p>Her singing can be as quiet as a sigh or as buoyantly melodious as calls by the hippest of birds. New Yorker Gretchen Parlato is a vocal adventurer, but also a delicately ingenious exponent of gliding Brazilian dances and sidelong swing. This terrific comeback set after a parenting break mixes touching originals and covers of composers from David Bowie to Joao Gilberto and Bach.</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/68647852022-01-03T00:00:00-08:002022-01-10T14:40:28-08:00Albums of the Year 2021 — the Arts Desk<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_thin" alt="" /></p>
<p>"Highlights in jazz include a welcome return as leader by Gretchen Parlato, whose Flor presented a sublime synthesis of Brazilian music, originals, judiciously reworked R&B and more, with the casting of Roy Hargrove’s “Roy Allan” as a mesmerising samba a stroke of arranging genius." </p>
<p>by Peter Quinn, Monday, 03 January 2022</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/69066182021-12-22T19:00:00-08:002022-02-24T19:34:35-08:00Jazz music that got us through another year of the pandemic<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />Gretchen Parlato: “Flor” — Rosa</p>
<p>This is vocalist and composer Gretchen Parlato’s first release since 2013, and the wait was absolutely worth it as this record is nothing short of stunning. </p>
<p>"Rosa'' is my personal favorite track. The counterpoint between Parlato’s voice and Artyom Manukyan’s cello creates a hypnotic texture that’s not often heard on an album labeled "jazz." This music is genre—defying and beautiful. — Andrew Mills, Capradio</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/68459882021-12-19T10:30:41-08:002022-01-10T14:39:36-08:00The 10 best jazz albums of 2021 — The Guardian<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p>#5 Gretchen Parlato – Flor </p>
<p>Her singing can be as quiet as a sigh or as buoyantly melodious as calls by the hippest of birds. New Yorker Gretchen Parlato is a vocal adventurer, but also a delicately ingenious exponent of gliding Brazilian dances and sidelong swing. This terrific comeback set after a parenting break mixes touching originals and covers of composers from David Bowie to Joao Gilberto and Bach. —John Fordham</p>
<p><a contents="»read article @jazzwise" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/dec/19/the-10-best-jazz-albums-of-2021">»read article @jazzwise</a></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/68436862021-12-16T19:42:31-08:002022-01-10T14:40:52-08:00Year in review: 25 of the best jazz albums of 2021 — Jazzwise<p><span class="font_small"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" /></span></p>
<p><span class="font_large">Gretchen Parlato – Flor </span></p>
<p>Gretchen Parlato is back and she came to play. Her latest album Flor — which means “flower” in Portuguese — honours the Brazilian music that she loves. The album is an exploration of the many ways in which motherhood has reconnected Parlato to her own inner child. The playful rhythms immediately stand out, and they’re a perfect springboard for Parlato’s acrobatic vocals. Her lyrics are powerful and her melodies memorable. —Raina Hersh</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/68167902021-04-01T00:00:00-07:002022-01-10T14:41:20-08:00Gretchen Parlato: ‘Flor’ —Jazziz Magazine<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/4cf0b14c5bfe92585c5b730dca2532897c31e892/original/gretchenparlato2.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />Flor has been touted as vocalist Gretchen Parlato’s Brazilian-inspired project, and that’s true enough. But don’t expect a series of breezy bossa novas. The 45-year singer/composer has routinely strived for next-level creativity, and Flor (“flower” in Portuguese) is no exception. Bossas and sambas are present, yes, but so is a waltz-time ballad (“What Does a Lion Say?”), a hushed version of David Bowie’s “No Plan” (from a posthumously released EP) and — most significantly — “Bach Cello Suite No. 1 (V. Menuett).” </p>
<p>Let’s start there. The multi-part song showcases Parlato’s breathy, elegant voice in a wordless chamber excursion, where she shapes syllables to add character and remains in full command. The result is a rhapsodic lullaby. </p>
<p>“Magnus,” on the other hand, would make for a terrific child wake-up song. With a joyful South African-flavored rhythm and melody, Parlato intones, “One day, the most beautiful girl in the world / She made the most beautiful boy in the world.” The song picks up momentum and evolves into a chorus chant. Another joyful noise comes courtesy of “Wonderful,” which features a percolating rhythm and a sweet hook, and is capped off by an array of children of varying ages stating different iterations of “I’m wonderful.” What could’ve been corny ends up being adorable. </p>
<p>Parlato will never be mistaken for a belter, but she compensates for her limited range and power with a purity of tone, deep immersion into the lyrics and a knack for tasteful vocalese. A subdued backing trio of guitar, cello and drums/percussion (along with some carefully placed guest artists) allows the singer plenty of room for subtlety and to intimately connect with listeners. </p>
<p>Parlato’s remake of “Sweet Love,” a major international hit for Anita Baker in 1986, glides along on a bossa-funk groove, over which she deconstructs the phrasing, skipping across bar lines. Gerald Clayton’s Rhodes piano adds welcome texture. </p>
<p>Of the more Brazil-centric material, Parlato transforms Roy Hargrove’s “Roy Allan” into a classic uptempo samba. Kicking off with guest Airto Moreira’s blend of hand and vocal percussion, the tune slides into a Parlato’s silky wordless vocal chant, which builds into a lush chorus featuring guest singers. The lead-off track, “É Preciso Perdoar,” a landmark song introduced in 1973 by João Gilberto, becomes a hushed parlor ballad. </p>
<p>With Flor, Gretchen Parlato has energized the concept of a Brazilian/jazz hybrid by not sticking to the rules.</p>
<p>by Eric Snider, Apr 1, 2021</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65825062021-03-23T10:42:24-07:002021-03-23T11:58:15-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Fono Forum Magazine, DE<p><strong>5 STARS</strong> — by Berthold Klostermann<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/ef21656109ee543b8055751b209be791f0da5bcc/original/jazzforum.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65825022021-03-23T10:30:37-07:002021-03-23T11:49:27-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Stereo Magazine, DE<p><strong>Album of the Month</strong><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" /><strong>"There it is again, this enchanting voice between breaths and whispers,<br>with an amenable range,<br>but enchanting naturalness...</strong><br>She enjoys phrasing just under the beat, using her breath rhythmically and creating tension for her musicians, who themselves come up with rhythmic-metric finesse. Her voice, an instrument among instruments, sometimes used wordlessly in a scat-like manner, sometimes with (mostly) her own lyrics.”<br>—Berthold Klostermann</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65824972021-03-23T10:26:48-07:002021-03-23T11:59:10-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Walker's Magazine, Japan<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />"The one and only voice<br>and nine brilliant songs."</strong></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65824962021-03-23T10:25:25-07:002021-03-23T10:25:25-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Hokkaido Newspaper, Japan<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" /><strong>"This album is multi-layered<br>Brazilian, Classical, Jazz and Pop <br>like a delicate flower."</strong></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/68208412021-03-22T19:00:00-07:002021-11-24T19:20:45-08:00Gretchen Parlato: Flor — JazzTimes Magazine<p>"Parlato offers a more introspective approach. Her singing delves into a song’s rhythms and harmonies as well as its lyrics, rearranging each pillar into her own vision"</p>
<p><span class="font_small"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p>
<p>Back in the late ’00s, vocalist and composer Gretchen Parlato seemed poised to be a “next big thing” amid a jazz landscape full of them. Examined alongside future luminaries like Robert Glasper, Vijay Iyer, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Linda May Han Oh, and Esperanza Spalding, Parlato’s NBT credentials were in good order. The daughter and granddaughter of musicians, she’d won the 2004 Monk competition and played alongside a few dozen jazz heavyweights. Her uniquely ruminative covers of material that ranged from Miles’ “Blue in Green” and Herbie’s “Butterfly” to songs by Björk and Mary J. Blige won her immense respect. Then, shortly after the release of her Grammy-nominated 2013 recording Live in NYC, she did something none of her esteemed peers had: She vanished. Gone with barely a trace. Parlato had a son with her husband, drummer Mark Guiliana, and for several years, she devoted herself completely to motherhood. </p>
<p>Flor, which arrives after a couple of years of gigging and commissions (and probably about a year’s worth of quarantine), picks up right where her impressive career had left off. Rather than invite you to soar with the spirit and words of a song, Parlato offers a more introspective approach. Her singing delves into a song’s rhythms and harmonies as well as its lyrics, rearranging each pillar into her own vision and creating an effect similar to that of bossa nova and other restrained styles. </p>
<p>Parlato’s cover of Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love” is a highlight of Flor. Her take is lighter, more rhythmically complex, and built less around yearning than aspiration. Other songs continue her investigation of Brazilian genres and some, like “Wonderful,” not surprisingly demonstrate an interest in kids’ music, a genre she’s probably heard a lot in recent years.</p>
<p>by Martin Johnson, Mar 16, 2021</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65825412021-03-22T11:00:00-07:002021-03-23T11:33:44-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — China Moses Jazz FM UK Radio<p><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />Featured China Moses'<br>Late Night Track of the Week:<br>Gretchen Parlato - Roy Allen</strong></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65785832021-03-18T20:09:47-07:002021-03-23T18:38:11-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Jazzwise Magazine<p>**** <span class="font_small">EDITOR'S CHOICE</span></p>
<p><span class="font_regular"><strong>“one of the greatest feats<br>of musical alchemy<br>you'll hear this year”</strong></span></p>
<p>—Peter Quinn</p>
<p><a contents="»READ IT @JAZZWISE.COM" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="HTTPS://jazzwise.com">»READ IT @JAZZWISE.COM</a></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65790952021-03-18T00:05:00-07:002021-03-19T20:36:33-07:00Understated: Jazz singer Gretchen Parlato blends styles on 'Flor'<p><strong>Parlato’s minimalist approach<br>and lyrical focus on love<br>— both lost and found —<br>gain traction from her sharp musical mind.</strong></p>
<p>—Mike Hobart, Financial Times</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65825402021-03-15T11:00:00-07:002021-03-23T18:35:52-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Croc Radio 89.5FM Jazz Chorus, France<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />"Gretchen has this level of delicacy, touched with sensitive themes but also — and what makes all the difference — is her knowledge of music and contribution to jazz today..."</p>
<p>"Gretchen a ce niveau de délicatesse, de sensibilité avec des thèmes effleurés mais aussi et c’est là toute la différence, l’apport du jazz d’aujourd’hui et sa connaissance des musiques..."</p>
<p>—Philippe Simonci </p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65680452021-03-08T09:23:23-08:002021-03-23T11:52:09-07:00Gretchen Parlato Flor — All About Jazz<p>5 STARS *****<br><strong>"One of the best vocal jazz albums of recent years — Gretchen Parlato returns with a masterful album in which she expresses the balance between refinement, lyricism and intact drive...”</strong></p>
<p><a contents="»»ARTICLE IN ITALIAN" data-link-label="allaboutjazz-italian" data-link-type="page" href="/allaboutjazz-italian">»»r</a><a contents="»»read article in italian" data-link-label="allaboutjazz-italian" data-link-type="page" href="/allaboutjazz-italian">ead article in italian</a><br>After an absence of six years dedicated to motherhood, Gretchen Parlato returns with a masterful album in which she expresses the balance between refinement, lyricism and intact drive to creatively reformulate the songs. At the head of a new staff - enriched by Gerald Clayton on piano and keyboards, Mark Guiliana on drums and Airto Moreira on percussion and voice, as guests - the singer from Los Angeles confirms in Flor her position as an absolutely personal interpreter, with nothing to fear in entering the scene of the splendid vocalists of the latest generation. </p>
<p>The path is even more eclectic than the previous records but the result is very homogeneous and mature. Gretchen Parlato expresses her jazz style always with sophisticated choices (repertoire and interpretations) and a compelling vocal style for the play of timbre shading and pauses, for the sensual emotional tension and the refined timing. </p>
<p>The title in Portuguese immediately refers to her great love for bossa nova and other Brazilian music that she sings in the original language with her slightly nasal timbre and that indolent gait that is not so easy to assimilate. The connection with Brazil is accentuated by the staff comprising guitarist Marcel Camargo and drummer Leo Costa, two artists of high value and experience, while the presence of the eclectic Armenian cellist Artyom Manukyan is ideal for forays into the classical universe (up to Johann Sebastian Bach). Other valuable reinterpretations come from the repertoires of David Bowie ("No Plan"), Anita Baker ("Sweet Love"), Pixinguinha ("Rosa") and other authors. </p>
<p>The record begins with a bewitching version of "È Preciso Perdoar," a classic by Joao Gilberto that Gretchen Parlato interprets in English and Portuguese, supported by an iterative rhythmic base of acoustic guitar and cello underlining. A lively fusion atmosphere, enhanced by Clayton's presence at Fender Rhodes, characterizes the reinterpretation of "Sweet Love" and gives the singer the opportunity to improvise using the voice as an instrument. </p>
<p>Each song is a discovery. The stage of a path carefully conceived on the ground of a colorful and at the same time precious research. A splendid example is the interpretation of "Rosa," a great classic of Brazilian music that Gretchen interprets by vocalizing, in a sumptuous integration with Bachian atmospheres. Another particularly compelling performance is "What Does a Lion Say," a gracefully drawn waltz enhanced by a precious arrangement and intense solos. </p>
<p>We cannot talk about all the themes but it is really difficult to leave out the radiant carioca exuberance of "Roy Allen," a piece composed by Roy Hargrove that sees Airto Moreira as a guest, the original reading of a part of "Cello Suite No. 1, BWV 1007 "by Bach or the intense and dramatic interpretation of" No Plan "by David Bowie. </p>
<p>One of the best vocal jazz albums of recent years, and therefore certainly album of the week.</p>
<p>By ANGELO LEONARDI, ALL ABOUT JAZZ</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65676492021-03-08T08:00:00-08:002021-03-08T14:43:24-08:00Gretchen Parlato Flor — All Music<p><strong>Flor is a masterpiece... a welcome and profound return. Parlato and her collaborators dig under and through stylistic and genre conventions, then emerge with a jazz language of their own that embraces the world's sounds and emotions, and translates them flawlessly with warmth, intimacy, poetry, and humor.</strong> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p>Flor marks vocalist and songwriter Gretchen Parlato's first recording in eight years. After 2013's Live in NYC, she and husband/drummer Mark Giuliana became parents to a son, Marley. Immersed in motherhood, she integrated her life and musical experiences, all the while contemplating her next creative step. Flor is it: a compelling synthesis of originals, pop covers, Brazilian standards, and classical music performed by a new international quartet. It includes Brazilian guitarist and musical director Marcel Camargo, Brazilian drummer Leo Costa, and Armenian cellist/bassist Artyom Manukyan. Parlato produced the nine-song set. </p>
<p>She references the past immediately on opener "É Preciso Perdoar." A hit for João Gilberto in 1973, Parlato's world changed when she first him singing at age 13. She fell in love with his simple, intimate, yet intricately detailed delivery and laid-back style. She presents the song with North African harmonic and rhythmic overtones from open-tuned guitars and droning cello atop a spectral percussion line. Her delivery adds drama, sensuality, and pathos to its lyric of unrequited love. Parlato offers a thoroughly updated read of Anita Baker's "Sweet Love" with Gerald Clayton guesting on Rhodes piano. She stretches the soul tune to the margins of poppy funk using the lyric's promise of abundance and fulfillment to guide her vocal. Parlato wrote "Magnus," for her best friend's son (he and his siblings all sing on it). Her 13/8 bass line and hooky melody reflect South African township jazz and the melodic and rhythmic ideas of Beninese guitarist Lionel Loueke, who worked with her for a decade. That track and "What Does a Lion Say?," composed by bassist Chris Morrissey, represent the lyric heart of Parlato's maternal vocation. Both are vulnerable, emotionally resonant, and intimate lullabies with glorious instrumental interplay between guitar and cello; Costa's beats underscore their melodies with rhythmic inflection points. Roy Hargrove's "Roy Allan" is offered as a samba tribute to the late trumpeter. Parlato's layered and stacked vocal choruses are transcendent, accented and expanded by fleet acoustic guitars, crystalline bass, and a whirlwind of organic percussion provided by guest Airto Moreira. Single "Wonderful" is a jaunty pop song that features Clayton and Giuliana. Its Afro-Brazilian rhythms bubble and groove under a sparkling, highlife-esque pop melody elucidated by an infectious hook. Parlato closes the set with an arresting version of David Bowie's "No Plan" from his posthumous EP of the same name. Her vocal drips with longing and desire as the protagonist resolves to experience the bardo, the place between as an eternal present, a "no place," of her own. Her want, confusion, and determination inhabit every syllable as electronics and Giuliana's drum kit frame her singing while Manukyan's manipulated cello accents it. </p>
<p>In sum, Flor is a welcome and profound return. Parlato and her collaborators dig under and through stylistic and genre conventions, then emerge with a jazz language of their own that embraces the world's sounds and emotions, and translates them flawlessly with warmth, intimacy, poetry, and humor. Flor is a masterpiece.</p>
<p>AllMusic Review by Thom Jurek</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65659762021-03-08T03:00:00-08:002022-05-25T10:11:03-07:00Gretchen Parlato Masterful Return — JAZZ-NEWS REVUE ECLECTIQUE<p><span class="font_small">5 STARS *****</span><br><strong>The birds are singing, the outside world</strong> <strong>is a jungle, but we have the best news of 2021: Gretchen Parlato is back.</strong><br><a contents="» read article (french)" data-link-label="Retour Magistral" data-link-type="page" href="/retour-magistral">» read article (french)</a></p>
<p>The birds are singing, it's seven in the morning, Los Angeles is stretching limply. Behind the screen, a terrace, a small wooden house that we guess cozy, and a familiar face. The last time we saw her, it was in the whirlwind of the early 2010s. Gretchen Parlato, the muse of all New York, the one who in a breath could reinvent Herbie Hancock's “Butterfly” (return to the version of “Live In NYC” just for fun), co-produce a record with Robert Glasper and play ping-pong with Esperanza Spalding to a tune by Jobim. Her slightly nasal timbre, her sophisticated voice although perfectly naked, openly seductive, made it sound: finally a credible alternative to prior singers like Stacey Kent! It was ten years ago. Four albums, tours, a hell of a dose of hype and then ... nothing.</p>
<p>"I didn't know how much my life was going to change, but from the day I got pregnant I knew I had to take some time." First in New Jersey, then in California with drummer Mark Guiliana and their child. Seen from France, Parlato had completely disappeared from radar. In fact, she never gave up. Just took some time.</p>
<p>Flor, the title of her new album, is a metaphor for this gentle rebirth, initiated by a former college friend from São Paulo, guitarist Marcel Camargo. Far from the East Coast urgency, the strings have taken the place of the keyboards, the mood has changed, Parlato beats a different tempo. It is barefoot that she unveils her new repertoire at the 2019 Montreal Festival, in front of an audience sincerely moved to find her again. "Magnus," a childishly innocent song the old Gretchen couldn't have afforded.</p>
<p>But Flor, a record haunted by Bossa-Nova and her childhood memories of Bobby McFerrin, "the one who made me want to push my voice and sing more complex lines, like a real instrument", does not completely turn her back to New York. We meet a superb “Roy Allan” by Roy Hargrove, blossoming in samba, punctuated by the brilliant Airto Moreira. “I have fond memories of Roy when he performed this track at the Jazz Gallery with his big band. An incredible guy”.</p>
<p>Stranded in Los Angeles while waiting for a possible new tour, Gretchen is already working on the sequel: "The idea would be to go back to the studio soon enough. There are projects on the table, a “Flor” volume two, a duet with my great friend Lionel Loueke or even, the most obvious things being generally before your eyes, an album with Mark, my husband ”.</p>
<p>The birds are singing, the world outside is a jungle, but we have the best news of 2021: Gretchen Parlato is back.</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/4fe12562fe8a7d6f819deb4099aed38060201d82/original/gp-jazz-fr2000.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65682722021-03-08T01:00:00-08:002021-03-08T13:39:58-08:00iTunes Jazz Featured Tracks <p>No Plan #4!<br>Sweet Love #5!</p>
<p> </p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65680432021-03-07T00:00:00-08:002021-03-08T13:51:28-08:00Gretchen Parlato's 'Flor' - Jazz FM's Album of the Week<p>Gretchen Parlato has returned, not only to the recording industry but to herself, with her new Brazilian-inspired project, Flor. Portuguese for “flower”, Flor is the artistic embodiment of the GRAMMY-nominated singer’s deep dive into motherhood over the last six years, a metamorphic interval of space that allowed Parlato to discover the fullness of her essence through a new lens. In this season of epiphany, Parlato reaps her most personal harvest yet, which she refers to as, “a blossoming, an opening, an offering, a return.” </p>
<p>A gorgeous synthesis of original material, American popular music, European classical music, and Brazilian standards, Flor exemplifies the many ways in which motherhood has reconnected Parlato to her own inner child, revisiting the enchantment of falling in love with music for the first time, particularly the various Brazilian genres she became enamoured with as a young teenager. </p>
<p>Brazilian music is a natural point of return for Parlato, who in many ways has been hinting at this affinity for quite some time. Her previous recordings include repertoire from some of Brazil’s most influential artists, such as Djavan and Bossa Nova architects Antônio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto; Gilberto’s influence in particular on Flor cannot be understated. “Discovering João Gilberto at 13 years old was monumental for me. Hearing him validated my more intimate and minimal approach to singing. He sounded so seemingly simple and tangible, yet there was so much detail, precision, and purpose to his vocal and guitar phrasing. Masterful, he was king!” More subtle yet no less influential is the infusion of West African cultures into the sounds of Brazil, illustrated in her previous collaborations with Beninese guitarist-vocalist Lionel Loueke.</p>
<p>Author: Alastair Steel</p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65677262021-03-05T10:00:00-08:002021-03-08T09:30:57-08:00FLOR #1 iTunes Jazz Top Albums Chart!gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65659352021-03-03T00:00:00-08:002021-03-05T11:24:27-08:0010 Albums You Need to Know<p>JAZZIZ MAGAZINE, by Matt Micucci</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_thin" alt="" />Gretchen Parlato, Flor (Edition) <br>Release date: March 5</p>
<p>Gretchen Parlato returns after a six-year hiatus with a new Brazilian-inspired project, Flor, with musical direction by Marcel Camargo and featuring guests Mark Guiliana, Gerald Clayton and Airto Moreira. Flor features originals and covers, and is also inspired by the many ways in which motherhood has reconnected the vocalist to her own inner child. “My purpose now has both a higher and deeper meaning,” she explains, “and this project is a musical representation of that journey.”<br><a contents="» read article" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.jazziz.com/10-albums-you-need-to-know-march-2021/">» read article</a></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65824932021-03-01T00:00:00-08:002021-03-23T11:22:06-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Music Magazine, Japan<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" /><strong>"The previous album was filled<br>with a sense of NYC. </strong></p>
<p><strong>In Flor— the universal sounds<br>that are superior to regionality<br>dwell in this beautiful album.”</strong></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65824902021-03-01T00:00:00-08:002021-03-23T12:04:11-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Intoxicate Magazine, Japan<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" /><strong>"Simple and intellectual </strong><br><strong>ensemble sound.<br>I have rarely heard </strong><strong>such music.”</strong></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65824852021-03-01T00:00:00-08:002021-03-23T11:21:28-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Jazz Life Magazine, Japan<p><span class="font_regular"><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" />"Gretchen Parlato is the only one </strong></span><br><span class="font_regular"><strong>who can reconstruct Brazilian music.”</strong></span></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65824832021-03-01T00:00:00-08:002021-03-23T11:20:22-07:00Gretchen Parlato FLOR — Eyescream Magazine, Japan<p><span class="font_small"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.png" class="size_s justify_left border_none" alt="" /></span><strong><span class="font_regular">"Brazilian music and organic feeling<br>are turned up, and reach the status<br>of new music that exceeds trends.”</span></strong></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65580772021-02-24T21:27:18-08:002021-02-26T20:14:41-08:00Gretchen Parlato — No Plan<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/011a57a5ec681115c56efd3f316c74df4b04f6bc/original/flor.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_thin" alt="" />Always an artist to watch in the current jazz landscape, Gretchen Parlato has been dropping several singles recently in anticipation of her upcoming album Flor, which will see its public release on March 5th. While her first two singles “Wonderful” and “Sweet Love” were thoroughly enjoyable and tasteful as ever, the release of her third “No Plan” renewed my excitement in Gretchen and intrigued me to see what the upcoming album has in store. Unexpectedly, there were plenty of affinities with art rock displayed here, which made much more sense after discovering it was a cover of Bowie’s posthumous tune of the same name. It certainly reminded me of the unique atmosphere on Blackstar (2016), which emerged from a blend of stark, sombre material and instrumentation that bears some ethereal eerieness to it. As the final track of Flor, this reminded me of the similar unorthodox arrangement of SWV’s 80s pop classic “Weak”, to end her album In A Dream (2009). As in this case, the outlandish decision pays off – all the more impressive, as unlike “Weak”, “No Plan” substitutes its overtly jazzy playfulness for a pensive atmosphere that’s held together by a far subtler, more restrained musicality. </p>
<p>The track itself is beautifully produced, with a sense of intimacy from the get-go established by the guitar’s tasteful reverbating plucks from Camargo, blending with Gretchen’s unmistakable mellow tone. The lovely unraveling chord progression embellishes upon Bowie’s original, underscored by sonorous notes on the vibes ringing out. The mood manages to abstain from being too flat and stifling by injecting some emotive content with Manukyan’s cello tremolos, nicely complemented by harmony that fluctuates seamlessly between major and minor modes. Thankfully, this isn’t overdone and balances excellently with Gretchen’s voice, unlike several tracks that might milk all the expressive potential of a tremolo. Throughout the track, there’s some gorgeous idiosyncratic moments in the stringsthat bring intimacy to a highly produced track that could easily grow cold, from bowing slightly nearer the bridge to evoke a more metallic sound, to guitar squeaks on the fretboard. These little moments remind me of the covert, gentler side to chamber pop, and feel reminiscent of something like Julia Holter’s Have You In My Wilderness (2015) – very surprising for a Gretchen release! They also show that the accompanying musicians haven’t just been brought in for a quick session job (or if they have, they’ve listened intently to their place within the overall sound and done a brilliant job). </p>
<p>The 6-minute track evolves very effectively, with the straightfoward drum pattern (Mark Guiliana) and cellist’s move to pizzicato to imitate an upright bass entering at the perfect time. The cello particularly introduces a pretty irresistible chamber jazz feel for me, with a striking tone that recalls Eberhard Weber, which maybe explains why I’m reminded of ECM-style jazz here. This all helps contribute to the eclectic track that showcases some of Gretchen’s wide-ranging influences. Still, she manages to maintain a distinct jazz direction, with some cool ninth-chord arpeggios in the guitar mid-way through atop some underlying synth pads, which helps pave the way for smatterings of some pretty spicy chords. Rhythmically, everything is upheld too, with her laid-back vocals, lulling guitar triplets, and a grounding drum pattern altogether producing a really satisfying groove. </p>
<p>All of these tasteful techniques on “No Plan” accumulate and become more prominent while still retaining Gretchen’s rich melancholic style, harking back to the morbid Bowie original. The cello’s moody solo later on definitely suits this, which is beautifully contoured as it organically blossoms outwards. The solo has a deep yearning quality as its higher range is skilfully explored, covertly showing off Manukyan’s virtuosity. As the strings died away, I was reminded of my favourite passages on art rock albums like Peter Gabriel’s Up (2002), but featuring a well-ingrained jazz sensibility in the musicians’ vernacular, making it all the more enjoyable. To wrap up, I cannot wait for Flor‘s release on the 5th of March, and will give an additional shout-out to its label Edition Records, whose ever-growing output never fails to impress me with their consistently musical releases. It feels very likely this album will be a highlight for jazz in 2021, and is definitely worth keeping an eye out for!</p>
<p>by <a contents="Tom Burgess, Written Records" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://writtenrecordsblog.wordpress.com/2021/02/24/gretchen-parlato-no-plan/" target="_blank">Tom Burgess, Written Records</a></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65600892020-12-14T18:00:00-08:002021-03-05T10:31:14-08:00Gretchen Parlato - FLOR<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/f14ed633fd6a79c018ae44b443a1f35d8fd0da32/original/gp-8311crop.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /><span class="font_small">LONDON JAZZ NEWS, by Nikki Shrire</span></p>
<p>A major new album– after eight long years – from the much admired and hugely influential vocalist GRETCHEN PARLATO is something to look forward to in 2021. She and fellow singer Nicky Schrire met – remotely, across continents – and talked… </p>
<p>The prospect of interviewing vocalist Gretchen Parlato for LondonJazz News prompted flashbacks to fancy Vanity Fair and New Yorker profiles. We’d meet at a wood-clad coffee joint and she’d ask for almond milk and honey in her tea. In reality, it’s 2020 and the pandemic that has shaken the world asunder means we are “meeting” over Zoom. Parlato is in Los Angeles and I’m ten hours ahead of her in Cape Town. However, all is not lost. We both cradle mugs of tea, which we sip throughout our hour and a half virtual chat. </p>
<p>»<a contents="read full article" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://gretchenparlato.com/articles-interviews/blog/gretchen-parlato-flor-release-date-5-march-2021">read full article</a></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65659772020-12-07T11:00:00-08:002021-03-05T10:48:47-08:00Amazon Music BEST of 2020: JAZZ <p style="text-align: center;">First single, WONDERFUL — </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/945f329161464ec6ede478b4a3f2dd2b1ec8e1c2/original/amazonbest2020.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65659812020-11-22T09:00:00-08:002021-03-05T10:55:49-08:00 WONDERFUL #4: iTunes Featured Jazz<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/81323c76ff6cef6fdb4cf43ceb547a996bfae03e/original/itunes-jazz-featured-tracks.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65659822020-11-20T11:00:00-08:002021-03-05T10:57:16-08:00WONDERFUL #3: Apple Music Jazz Currents<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/67b2d26ee82d82ba02a7a9542ed9341b40e1fca2/original/itunes-jazz-currents.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65659782020-11-20T11:00:00-08:002021-03-05T10:51:07-08:00WONDERFUL #1: Cover Amazon Music Fresh Jazz! <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/eec990798e488d16e24d60c57cfc7a44c725e83a/original/amazonmusiccover.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65659792020-11-19T11:00:00-08:002021-03-05T10:52:34-08:00WONDERFUL #1: Cover Tidal Vocal Jazz Standards & Standouts!<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/311554e0fb68eba812ce2985133880e3e047f2a9/original/tidal-cover.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>gretchen parlato tag:gretchenparlato.com,2005:Post/65659802020-11-19T10:00:00-08:002021-03-05T10:53:59-08:00WONDERFUL — Breakfast Track of the Week Jazz FM<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/417453/b951cf5c986b3eed0b9ae642e9f084d33c4028f2/original/jazzfm.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>gretchen parlato