Germana Stella La Sorsa and Tom Ollendorff: After Hours

For an EP that clocks in at a mere 25 or so minutes, there is a lot to enjoy on After Hours, vocalist Germana Stella La Sorsa's duo album with guitarist Tom Ollendorff. La Sorsa has been making a name for herself since her earliest days as a singer in Italy, while her visibility in the London jazz scene has been rising since her previous two releases, Vapour (33 Jazz, 2021) and Primary Colours (33 Jazz, 2024). The intimate setting of After Hours lends a particular charm, however, with a compelling mix of tunes and an engaging rapport between the vocalist and the guitarist.

Leading off with the Beatles' "Because" signals La Sorsa's willingness to take some chances, as the song's minimalist lyrics allow her the room she needs to take the tune out with wordless vocalizing. Her winsome voice, resilient with just a hint of fragility, is perfectly suited for the track, as is Ollendorff's graceful support, assisted in this case by some judicious multitracking to bring in a second guitar part. The other covers are similarly well-chosen: "Alice in Wonderland" conveys an expectant sense of wonder, with a jaunty insouciance enlivening it, while the legendary Brazilian composer Pixinguinha's "Carinhoso" is a lovely tune, with La Sorsa offering an earnest rendition alongside a pleasingly lyrical solo from Ollendorff.

Just as effective are La Sorsa's and Ollendorff's own compositions. "Procida" is another Latin-inflected piece, again foregrounding the delicacy of La Sorsa's voice, while "In Time and (S)pace" has an open-ended feel, with a ruminative quality that provides a potent glimpse into the duo's entwined interactions, Ollendorff's pensive guitar lines merging nicely with La Sorsa's floating wordless vocals. And the moody title track conveys a heartfelt poignant longing, as La Sorsa's ability to extract the song's emotional potency emerges effortlessly.

Although one can quibble with the album's brief duration, this comes principally from a sense that these musicians have a great deal more to offer. La Sorsa has flexed her jazz chops convincingly on previous releases, but her particular affinity with Ollendorff is something special.

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