Home » Jazz Articles » Bailey's Bundles » Alma Mićić's Balkan Soul in the Brave New World
Alma Mićić's Balkan Soul in the Brave New World
Courtesy El Gvojos
After having released four recordings between 2004 and 2017, the Serbian-American vocalist Alma Micic (pronounced "Mee-cheech") took the COVID-19 pandemic off in the studio, returning in 2024 contributing vocals for "Evergreen" on tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander's release Timing Is Everything (Cellar Live/La Reserve Records). Mićić's collaboration with Alexander jumpstarted the singer's return to the studio, which resulted in two new recordings, both on Venus Records: You're My Thrill (2024) and Lilac Wine—Tribute to Helen Merrill (2025). This is the definition of an embarrassment of riches.
Mićić recorded both albums with the same personnel at the Van Gelder Studio under the production direction of Tetsuo Hara, owner of the Japanese record label Venus. The singer recorded You're My Thrill in June 2023, releasing the recording in September 2024. Hara was so impressed he asked Mićić for a second recording a year later, resulting in Lilac Wine -Tribute to Helen Merrill, which was released in October 2025. The two recordings comprise a colorful diptych dedicated to the ballad.
These contemporary recordings reflect the growth and evolution of Mićić's voice over the 20 years of her recording career. What began with her thoughtfully curated debut, Introducing Alma (CTA Records, 2004), replete with the expected ("Corcovado"), the unexpected (Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes") and the cultural ("Sejdefu Majka Budjase") has become a deeper, emotionally denser experience.
Alma Mićić
You're My Thrill
Venus Records
2024
Alma Mićić's collaboration with saxophonist Eric Alexander on his Timing Is Everything paid big dividends on Mićić's You're My Thrill. Supporting the singer, besides Alexander, are pianist Brandon McCune, bassist Alexander Claffy, drummer Jason Tiemann and guitarist (and husband) Rale Micic, who contributes significantly to the recording. This recording displays Mićić's keen ear for swing invention, spanning seven standards and two Balkan folk songs.
The singer and her band play jazz sleight-of-hand on the opening, "Bye Bye Blackbird," performing it straight for the opening chorus. The song would remain quite functional if it did not change at all, being more than a satisfactory ballad rendering of the tune. But Mićić and McCune blow things up, spinning into a very different second verse, losing all tethers. The band tumbles into the second chorus at a double time while Mićić casts off words, beats, time signatures with impunity. Alexander delivers a virile tenor solo followed by an equally muscular solo given by McCune. This is vocal jazz at its pinnacle, with Mićić extending the language of Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter, creating her own realm of vocal fireworks a la Hot Club de France.
The jazz bait-and-switch doesn't stop there. Alexander begins "I'll Be Seeing You" with an extended duet introduction with McCune that has a whiff of the old melody but smells more of an obscure Monk tune. Then, the band comes in, and Mićić dismantles the song's time and harmony into a beautifully realized jazz performance. Son Little's "Mad About You" provides the most contemporary composition of the set. Mićić falls directly into its modern vibe, swaying gently to its charms. "Moja Mala Nema Mane" is the first of two Serbian folk songs ("Zute Dunje" closes the disc). Mićić scats with a most Eastern European flare, while McCune plays accordion on the modern hammerklavier.
The title song emerges as a lazy, strolling ballad that incorporates a healthy amount of Hot Club, accentuated by Rale Mićić's carefully coiffed chording. The singer breezily scoots along at a languid and sleepy pace, singing as if part of a tone dream. Alma and Rale Mićić used their time between recordings wisely, if this release is any sign. Well done!
Alma Mićić
Lilac Wine—Tribute to Helen Merrill
Venus Records
2025
Where You're My Thrill is a quietly rollicking ballad collection; Lilac Wine -Tribute to Helen Merrill is a sharply defined collection of songs most associated with Helen Merrill, an often neglected subject of the music homage. Born in New York City, Merrill was originally Jelena Ana Milcetic, the child of Croatian immigrant parents, sharing her own Balkan experience with Mićićs,' making this homage that much more appropriate. With the same band on board, Mićić breaks open this ten-song recital with a traditional reading of "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To." Supported by the guitar quartet of Rale Mićić, bassist Alexander Claffy, drummer Jason Tiemann, and saxophonist Alexander, the singer has a wide harmonic berth within to explore the well-considered standard.
The disc's title piece sports a heady dose of that Old World zeitgeist in its introduction before sliding into the Merrill vehicle solidly. Mićić extends this home flavor into a like-minded rendition of "Comes Love," wearing these songs like fine attire, never forgetting from where the allusion comes. The band is respectful of this, blending traditions seamlessly. Mićić closes the recording with a quartet of stoned soul standards, beginning with a bluesy "Lover Man" sensuously delivered. Mićić adds just enough vamp to be convincing against some clever tenor saxophone by Alexander. Rale Mićić gives "Night and Day" a curious descending introduction that resolves into the singer's full-throated delivery. "'S Wonderful" and "The Masquerade is Over" act as a definitive coupling supporting this very fine disc. Mićić's total presentation is exceptional, making Lilac Wine a year-end contender.
Tracks: Bye Bye Blackbird; I'll Be Seeing You; In a Sentimental Mood; Mad About You; Moja Mala Nema Mane; My One and Only Love; The Shadow of Your Smile; You're My Thrill; Zute Dunje.
Personnel: Alma Mićić: vocals; Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone; Rale Mićić: guitar; Brandon McCune: piano; Alexander Claffy: bass; Jason Tiemann: drums.
Lilac Wine -Tribute to Helen Merrill
Tracks: You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To; Lilac Wine; All Of Me; Comes Love; I Haven't Got Anything Better to Do; Wild Is The Wind; Lover Man; Night and Day; 'S Wonderful; This Masquerade is Over.
Personnel: Alma Mićić: vocals; Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone; Rale Mićić: guitar; Brandon McCune: piano; Alexander Claffy: bass; Jason Tiemann: drums.
Mićić recorded both albums with the same personnel at the Van Gelder Studio under the production direction of Tetsuo Hara, owner of the Japanese record label Venus. The singer recorded You're My Thrill in June 2023, releasing the recording in September 2024. Hara was so impressed he asked Mićić for a second recording a year later, resulting in Lilac Wine -Tribute to Helen Merrill, which was released in October 2025. The two recordings comprise a colorful diptych dedicated to the ballad.
These contemporary recordings reflect the growth and evolution of Mićić's voice over the 20 years of her recording career. What began with her thoughtfully curated debut, Introducing Alma (CTA Records, 2004), replete with the expected ("Corcovado"), the unexpected (Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes") and the cultural ("Sejdefu Majka Budjase") has become a deeper, emotionally denser experience.
Alma MićićYou're My Thrill
Venus Records
2024
Alma Mićić's collaboration with saxophonist Eric Alexander on his Timing Is Everything paid big dividends on Mićić's You're My Thrill. Supporting the singer, besides Alexander, are pianist Brandon McCune, bassist Alexander Claffy, drummer Jason Tiemann and guitarist (and husband) Rale Micic, who contributes significantly to the recording. This recording displays Mićić's keen ear for swing invention, spanning seven standards and two Balkan folk songs.
The singer and her band play jazz sleight-of-hand on the opening, "Bye Bye Blackbird," performing it straight for the opening chorus. The song would remain quite functional if it did not change at all, being more than a satisfactory ballad rendering of the tune. But Mićić and McCune blow things up, spinning into a very different second verse, losing all tethers. The band tumbles into the second chorus at a double time while Mićić casts off words, beats, time signatures with impunity. Alexander delivers a virile tenor solo followed by an equally muscular solo given by McCune. This is vocal jazz at its pinnacle, with Mićić extending the language of Ella Fitzgerald and Betty Carter, creating her own realm of vocal fireworks a la Hot Club de France.
The jazz bait-and-switch doesn't stop there. Alexander begins "I'll Be Seeing You" with an extended duet introduction with McCune that has a whiff of the old melody but smells more of an obscure Monk tune. Then, the band comes in, and Mićić dismantles the song's time and harmony into a beautifully realized jazz performance. Son Little's "Mad About You" provides the most contemporary composition of the set. Mićić falls directly into its modern vibe, swaying gently to its charms. "Moja Mala Nema Mane" is the first of two Serbian folk songs ("Zute Dunje" closes the disc). Mićić scats with a most Eastern European flare, while McCune plays accordion on the modern hammerklavier.
The title song emerges as a lazy, strolling ballad that incorporates a healthy amount of Hot Club, accentuated by Rale Mićić's carefully coiffed chording. The singer breezily scoots along at a languid and sleepy pace, singing as if part of a tone dream. Alma and Rale Mićić used their time between recordings wisely, if this release is any sign. Well done!
Alma MićićLilac Wine—Tribute to Helen Merrill
Venus Records
2025
Where You're My Thrill is a quietly rollicking ballad collection; Lilac Wine -Tribute to Helen Merrill is a sharply defined collection of songs most associated with Helen Merrill, an often neglected subject of the music homage. Born in New York City, Merrill was originally Jelena Ana Milcetic, the child of Croatian immigrant parents, sharing her own Balkan experience with Mićićs,' making this homage that much more appropriate. With the same band on board, Mićić breaks open this ten-song recital with a traditional reading of "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To." Supported by the guitar quartet of Rale Mićić, bassist Alexander Claffy, drummer Jason Tiemann, and saxophonist Alexander, the singer has a wide harmonic berth within to explore the well-considered standard.
The disc's title piece sports a heady dose of that Old World zeitgeist in its introduction before sliding into the Merrill vehicle solidly. Mićić extends this home flavor into a like-minded rendition of "Comes Love," wearing these songs like fine attire, never forgetting from where the allusion comes. The band is respectful of this, blending traditions seamlessly. Mićić closes the recording with a quartet of stoned soul standards, beginning with a bluesy "Lover Man" sensuously delivered. Mićić adds just enough vamp to be convincing against some clever tenor saxophone by Alexander. Rale Mićić gives "Night and Day" a curious descending introduction that resolves into the singer's full-throated delivery. "'S Wonderful" and "The Masquerade is Over" act as a definitive coupling supporting this very fine disc. Mićić's total presentation is exceptional, making Lilac Wine a year-end contender.
Tracks and Personnel
You're My ThrillTracks: Bye Bye Blackbird; I'll Be Seeing You; In a Sentimental Mood; Mad About You; Moja Mala Nema Mane; My One and Only Love; The Shadow of Your Smile; You're My Thrill; Zute Dunje.
Personnel: Alma Mićić: vocals; Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone; Rale Mićić: guitar; Brandon McCune: piano; Alexander Claffy: bass; Jason Tiemann: drums.
Lilac Wine -Tribute to Helen Merrill
Tracks: You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To; Lilac Wine; All Of Me; Comes Love; I Haven't Got Anything Better to Do; Wild Is The Wind; Lover Man; Night and Day; 'S Wonderful; This Masquerade is Over.
Personnel: Alma Mićić: vocals; Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone; Rale Mićić: guitar; Brandon McCune: piano; Alexander Claffy: bass; Jason Tiemann: drums.
About Alma Micic
Tags
Bailey's Bundles
Alma Micic
C. Michael Bailey
United States
New York
New York City
Eric Alexander
Wayne Shorter
Alexander Claffy
Jason Tiemann
Rale Micic
Venus Records
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