Christina Machado: Gone With The Wind

Her experienced jazz voice weaves interpreted lyrics and scat singing around a star-studded New Orleans quintet for one eventful night on the town. A native of “The Big Easy,” Christina Machado swings with a natural ease that has been influenced through years of studying the works of Ella, Billie, Carmen, and many more. With Nicholas Payton and company backing her on this debut recording, Machado offers a varied set of romantic ballads, swinging jaunts, and up-tempo romps. She’s at her best on the brightest numbers, where she demonstrates a fiery enthusiasm for mixing it up and a clear understanding of jazz’s broad mainstream. “Free Yourself,” an original by Payton and Machado, serves as a particularly poignant example, with its up-tempo, Mississippi Delta shuffle rhythm and perky attitude. Machado enters the field, already crowded with female jazz singers, by turning loose her natural affinity for fire and passion. One of the band’s high points arises from Brice Winston’s luscious tenor solo on “Wave,” a sultry samba arrangement that also includes English lyrics and soulful scatting from Machado. Other high points include Peter Martin’s piano interlude on “Free Yourself,” Payton’s sparkling flugelhorn solo on “I Didn’t Know About You,” and his romantic trumpet interlude for “What Are You Doing With the Rest of Your Life?” Memorable and recommended, Machado’s debut album welcomes a talented jazz singer with genuine chops to the mainstream forum.