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Jami Lynn: Sparse
ByLynn's vocal is passable, but she seems less confident with this type of material. The band, while seasoned, offers up a rehearsal quality reading of the music. The highlight of the album is Lynn's own composition, "Doris Passing." Here her breezy vocal is ably supported by guitarist Dalton Coffey's twangy solo interlude. The song has a subtle bluesy bossa nova feel to it.
On the somber Welch/Rawlings tune "I Dream a Highway," the music takes a winsome high-plains drifter turn. Lynn's vocal is impassioned as she returns to her folk music roots. Unfortunately, the piano solo seems labored. The music recovers with a muted trumpet solo that merges with the saxophone to great effect. The album concludes with the title track "Sparse," a composition by Lynn and Reinartz. While pleasant enough, it's more show tune than jazz.
It's always great to welcome new talent to the music, and to that effect, Lynn and her crew should be applauded. However, it's important to realize that jazz is soulful and creative music. At its best, Sparse hits the right notes, but at the end of the day, the music is undermined by the up and down multi-style nature of the album.
Track Listing
Autumn Leaves; Baby, I Don’t Cry Over You; Don’t Explain; Doris Passing; I Dream a Highway; Sparse.
Personnel
Jami Lynn
vocalsJami Lynn: vocals, guitar; Andrew Reinartz: bass; Dalton Coffey: guitar; Jim Speirs: trumpet; Jeff Paul: piano; Joel Shotwell: sax; Daniel Heier: drums.
Album information
Title: Sparse | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Self Produced
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Jami Lynn
CD/LP/Track Review
Don Phipps
Sparse
Self Produced
Andrew Reinartz
Billie Holliday
Arthur Herzog, Jr
Dalton Coffey