—Angelo Leonardi, All About Jazz
Gretchen Parlato's unmistakable voice and unique style draw refined paths in harmony with illustrious guests. The seventh album of the Los Angeles singer strikes at first glance for the beauty of the melodies, the supple rhythmic approach and the bright timbral spectrum.
To celebrate her fiftieth year, Gretchen brings together long-standing partners and new collaborators: Alan Hampton, Robert Glasper, Mark Guiliana, Becca Stevens, Gerald Clayton, Meshell Ndegeocello, Amber Navran. It is not the usual album with a protagonist and representative guests but an inventive and shared project, where the personalities of the individuals contribute to the success of the work. An example is the presence of two female voices—Becca Stevens and Amber Navran—who participate in the definition of splendid songs. In the reinvented version of "Mad World" by Tears for Fears, Gretchen Parlato lets Becca play the second verse of the theme, in a confrontation that adds drama to the hypnotic and enveloping arrangement. In "The Wise Ones" Gretchen and the co-author of the ballad, Amber Navran, outline a bewitching picture, where voices become whispers, breaths, while Robert Glasper's piano instills lightness and elegance.
Two key contributions, as songwriters and instrumentalists, are made by Robert Glasper and Alan Hampton. The first is central in various songs also as an arranger: unmistakable on the Fender Rhodes and essential on the piano in "Block the Sun"; the second is the author of "Capricorn" the most attractive song on the album and accompanies Gretchen on guitar in other seductive moments. Meshell Ndegeocello makes a single appearance but characterizes with his electric bass "Never Come Down," with a marked techno groove with ethnic influences.
Last but not least, the percussive role of Mark Guiliana, central to each song. An album where the ethereal voice of Gretchen Parlato shines, offering a stylistically homogeneous album, which uses pop timbres and sounds in a jazzy project, as rarely happens today.
Album of the week.