Emma Hedrick: Newcomer

As long as there are songs, there will be singers to sing them, but there is a slight difference between a singer and a vocalist. Singers, no matter how talented, tend to remain in the foreground with the band in support. A vocalist, however, uses the voice as an instrument, becoming an integral part of the ensemble. Emma Hedrick fits that definition completely, and with her debut album Newcomer, she arrives with a voice honed through years of training and performance. She has received countless awards and has already established herself as a voice to be reckoned with.

A native of Indianapolis with degrees from the Frost School of Music and the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Hedrick has already made noteworthy performances at major festivals across the United States and Europe. Newcomer gathers ten of her original compositions, many of which were written during her student years. Over the years, however, she has refined them, adding new levels of depth and maturity.

Her fellow performers are also exceptionally talented players. Pianist Connor Rohrer, drummer Anton Kot, bassist Thor Eide Johansen, and saxophonist Shane McCandless form the core group, which is enhanced by a rotating cast of guest musicians. Producer Peter Eldridge, known for his work with New York Voices, proves a stabilizing force, contributing piano and vocals on several tracks. His presence underscores the album's blend of craft and emotional depth.

Hedrick's strengths as both storyteller and arranger are evident from the outset. The opening track, "The Idea of Love," a graceful jazz waltz, sets the tone with its warm vocal delivery and intuitive phrasing. This track shows how seamlessly the musicians work together, taking musical complexity and making it seem natural and effortless.

Her compositions show a variety of stylistic influences. The title track, for example, features atmospheric orchestration, and the lyrics and presentation have a similar emotional quality to some of Joni Mitchell's work. In contrast, "Inside Your Mind" presents a well-structured composition that transitions from upbeat and rhythmic to free improvisation, evoking swirling inner thoughts, much like a musical stream-of-consciousness.

This variety in Hedrick's songwriting keeps Newcomer engaging from start to finish. "Tone Poem in Greenwich Village" adapts a Langston Hughes verse into an atmospheric meditation, while the John Mayer-inspired "Come on Home" and the closing "Waste No More Days" move more toward pop accessibility without losing their jazz sensibility.

Hedrick proves that she does not need vocalese or flash to prove her talent. She instead develops her ethos with clarity, nuance and honesty. Although her delivery is often rooted in classic jazz vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington, her sound is distinctly contemporary, showing a counterbalance between traditional and contemporary.

Newcomer is not merely a showcase for a gifted vocalist; it's the calling card of a composer with a strong melodic voice and an instinct for collaboration. As debuts go, it is strikingly confident, and it elevates her beyond someone with potential to a powerful artist.

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