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Becca Stevens Band: Weightless
ByThe Becca Stevens Band is a quartet capable of generating both heat and light when the instruments couple with the vocals, Liam Robinson and Chris Tordini having principle parts. This quartet is supplemented with guitarist Larry Campbell on several tracks and Parlato on the lullaby "No More."
The title song merges all the singing voices in provocative counterpoint that recalls Phish's "Bouncing Around the Room" crossed with The Doobie Brothers' "Black Water," except Stevens and her band give a thoroughly updated vocal treatment compared to those older songs. Jordan Perlson's muscular drumming juxtaposes itself anxiously with the soft delivery of the singer's delicate melody.
Stevens extends this melodious contrapuntal singing to its limit in the very Norah Jones-like "There is a Light That Never Goes Out." Stevens' voice square dances with those of Robinson and Tordini. The single cover on the disc, Seal's "Kiss from a Rose," is perhaps the greatest success of the recital, completely re-harmonized and presented organically. This ranks as one of the most inventive and inspired covers of a modern popular song.
Stevens emerges at an exciting time in jazz vocal music when boundaries are being pushed, reset, and pushed again. Her organic style is exciting and innovative, made even more so by her groundbreaking singing.
Track Listing
Weightless; I'll Notice; There is a Light that Never Goes Out; Traveller's Blessing; The Riddle; Kiss from a Rose; How to Love; Canyon Dust; My Girls; No More; You Can Fight; Each Coming Night.
Personnel
Becca Stevens
vocalsecca Stevens: vocals, guitar, ukulele, charango; Liam Robinson: accordion, piano, harmonium, chamberlin, vocals; Chris Tordini: bass, vocals; Jordan Perlson: drums, percussion; Gretchen Parlato: vocals (10); Larry Campbell: guitar, cittem (2, 4-6,11).
Album information
Title: Weightless | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Sunnyside Records