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Kat Parra: Birds in Flight
ByThis wonderfully produced set brims over with exquisite arrangements, mostly by trombonist/producer Wayne Wallace and pianist Murray Low, who mix the colors of strings, multiple percussion, and brass and reeds into a polished and joyous amalgam. "Dame La Llave," a charango tune, bubbles to life on an infectious groove that leads into a lilting take on the American Songbook classic "Softy As in a Morning Sunrise," danzón and cha-cha style. The sparely and beautfully arranged "Alfonsina Y El Mar" is a jazzy flamenco piece.
The set's title tune, penned by Kat Parra, took fifth place in the 1999 Latin Jazz Category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. This hard-driving salsa tune was inpired by the breakup of her marriage. Ellington's "Caravan" gets an exotic treament with the inclusion of tablas (Ravi Guatala) and dumbek (Katja Cooper). Parra sings "Kuano El Rey Nimrod," a traditional Sepharic tune, in Ladinoa dying language of the Spanish Jewsin front of exotic rhythm and assertive strings, and she closes the disc with "Quizas Porque," which has a gorgeously sweet melody.
Birds in Flight is a remarkable debut from a singer with a pure, straightforward delivery and deft songwriting skills, immersed in a cool wash of intricate arrangements.
Track Listing
Mais Que Nada; Dame La Llave; Softly As in a Morning Sunrise; Alfonsina Y El Mar, Birds in Flight; Caravan; Oleo de Una Mujer Con Sombrero; These Old Feelings; Kuando El Rey Nimrod; Quizas Porque.
Personnel
Kat Parra
vocalsKat Parra: voice; Murray Lowe: piano; Rick Vandivier: guitar; Masuru Koga: flutes and saxophone; John Worley: trumpet and flugelhorn; Anthony Blea: violin; Lila Sklar: violin; Peter Barshay: bass; Renata Braft: cello; Paul Wageningen: drum set; Michael Spiro: percussion; Michaelle Goerlitz: percussion; Ravi Gutala: Tablas; Katja Cooper: Dumbek and rik; Rick Rangelcoro; Orlando Torriente: corro;; Pat Parra: rap and coro.
Album information
Title: Birds in Flight | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: JazzMa Records
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