Maya Nova: Days

Bulgarian vocalist/composer Maya Nova made the move from a lengthy teaching and performing engagement in Singapore to New York City, releasing Days in the creative bargain. She continues to study the seam between pop and jazz that she did on her previous Open (Self Produced, 2010), sprinkling jazz standards among interpretations of more modern tunes and her own informed compositions. Her feather-light take on Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Making Love" sets a subtle tone for a collection simply crafted with piano trio and refined arrangements.

w Nova opens the disc with her composition "Days" that vamps off of the "Night in Tunisia" bass line. "Come to Me" and "He Kissed Your Lips" continue this weightless vide, buoyed by John di Martino' soft-touch piano and arrangements. A slight retooling of "You and the Night and the Music" and "But Not For Me" prove that there is much yet to be derived from the Songbook. Nova parlays her international experiences into some well-crafted, almost slick performances that are completely ready of consumption, consideration and artistic digestion...that thing that makes us all better.