Louise Dodds: All I Know

The last time Scottish singer-songwriter Louise Dodds was featured on All About Jazz, she was collaborating with Azerbaijani pianist Elchin Shirinov on their evocative duo album, Two Hours After Midnight (review). That recording wove together folk, classical, and jazz influences, drawing inspiration from the poetry of Robert Burns, who wrote about love, loss, and friendship. Those themes remain central to All I Know, but this time, the compositions are entirely Dodds' own.

Dodds has released two previous albums, Fly (Independent, 2013) and her first album of original material, The Story Needs an Ending (Independent, 2022). For All I Know, she reunites with Shirinov, who also arranges the tracks, alongside bassist Max Luthert and drummer Dave Hamblett—Shirinov's band mate in his own trio. Rather than functioning as a singer with a backing band, the quartet operates as a cohesive unit, with Dodds' storytelling seamlessly integrated into the music and improvisations.

Opener "As Standard" has a 1970s singer-songwriter vibe; Dodds' warm tone captures attention with her conversational lyrics flowing over Shirinov's rhythmic piano before he builds a sublime improvisation. Dodds' voice has power, but she holds this in reserve, preferring to use softer tones to communicate the emotions behind her lyrics. This tender but resilient combination comes to the fore in the storytelling in "Home" and "Inside Story."

One of the standout tracks is "Educating the Heart." The composition flows naturally and includes the lyric from which the album title comes and also sums up many of the themes. Another highlight is "Lifeline," catchy and smoothly soulful; it features solos from Luthert and Shirinov while Hamblett sets up a rhythmic sway.

Elsewhere, "Holyrood" serves as a tribute to Dodds' hometown of Edinburgh. "Wiser" charms with its smart lyrics and rolling piano phrases and Dodds' vocals revel in the slow tempo of "Hemispheres," which also provides further proof of how well Dodds and Shirinov support and complement each other.

Jazz singer-songwriters are becoming increasingly rare, making it all the more refreshing to hear new, assured compositions sitting within carefully arranged musical elements that use improvisation as a tool to build on the emotion in the songs. The band supports her with a sensitivity that allows jazz, pop and soul influences to intertwine naturally. Dodds is warm and soulful in her delivery and has the vocal phrasing, control and tone that allow her to convey the emotions and story of each song. An altogether winning combination.