Tara Minton: The Devil Invites You To Dance

With themes from Aztec mythology and Latin American traditional dance, Tara Minton's The Devil Invites You To Dance follows a soul's journey through the underworld of shadows and desire. The Australian harpist, vocalist and composer wrote the album over two weeks in Mexico City's Coyoacán borough, immersing herself in its culture, music, street art and dance.

The resulting 10-track album features an outstanding ensemble comprising Miguel Gorodi on trumpet and flugelhorn, John J Williamson on double bass, David Ingamells on drums and Emilio Yañez Ruíz on percussion. Minton sings and narrates in both English and Spanish.

The journey through this dark night of the soul begins with the title track, where Minton's intriguing spoken narration weaves between bass, trumpet and harp over subtly swaying percussion. Throughout the album, her command of the harp continually challenges any preconceptions about the instrument's expressive and rhythmic possibilities in a jazz setting.

"El Colibrí" (The Hummingbird) appropriately opens with birdsong before unfolding into bright rhythms, wordless vocals, shimmering harp passages and colourful percussion, making for an uplifting treat. Minton then explores the area of "Iztapalapa" with a multi-sectional, swirling piece featuring vibrant trumpet from Gorodi, before percussionist Ruiz contributes the lyrics for Minton's sweet vocals on the tender bolero "Cariño."

A master's degree in jazz performance from London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama has seen Minton become established as one of Britain's most distinctive harpists and vocalists, comfortable and in-demand across a wide range of musical genres. Her virtuosity is especially evident on the joropo-inspired "Shadow Dance," where Spanish narration gives way to dazzling interplay between her harp and the inventive maracas of guest musician "Ernesto Marichales."

With highlight following highlight, the album moves on to "Let It Rain" where the drama intensifies through impassioned vocals, soaring trumpet and Ingamells' angry drums. Minton then joins Sara Colman and Clare Wheeler as the Triple Goddesses on "En Otra Vida." Williamson's bass solo is a strong feature of "A More Colourful Life" before the closing "My Heart Is A Song" brings the journey to a joyous conclusion, with Minton, Gorodi and the superb rhythm section making the album's invitation to dance almost impossible to resist.

The multi-faceted The Devil Invites You To Dance blends musical cultures into a concept album that explores themes of identity and self-expression through a mythological lens. The album bursts with invention and infectious energy producing a pulse-quickening, free-spirited album that is a pure delight.