Ellie Martin: Verdant

There is no time like the present to fulfill your dreams. The hands we are dealt often have a way of making that clear, as vocalist, composer and educator Ellie Martin knows all too well. After receiving a cancer diagnosis, beating the disease, starting a family and finding joy in watching her children bask in the beauty of their present, she realized that practicing carpe diem was the only proper way to carry on. So Martin did what she needed to do, rolling up her sleeves, picking up her pencil and crafting this self-possessed debut.

Verdant, comprised of 12 diverse originals, offers wonderful greenery and scenery. And with a supportive cast that includes notables like Peter Eldridge on piano and Keith Ganz on guitar, she is in excellent company in her work. Opening on "Living for the Now," Martin delivers a samba for shining souls. Written for her daughters, and reflective of their playful spirit, it serves as an optimistic introduction and benefits greatly from guest clarinetist Andrew Bishop's exuberant contributions. Then she moves toward a reflective stance with the wistful "As Time Goes." Sharing the vocal spotlight with Mike Harrison, and working atop Eldridge's supportive accompaniment, Martin addresses dissolving love worn down by the years.

Welcoming accordionist Vitor Gonçalves for a one-shot appearance on the album's third number, Martin uses Argentinian allure to explore the power dynamics in relationships during "Dancers Serenade." Then airiness gets an edge on "Never Will I Worry," where Ariel Kasler's guitar adds the proper ingredients to a hindsight examination of the signs of brewing divorces; textures thin out with the trio of voice, piano and clarinet on "Love Somehow Will Heal," a number nodding to a friend taken too soon by cancer; and bassist Kurt Khranke's soloing, along with Kasler's contribution, captures the mood of the moment and reflects the leader's light on the life-affirming "Renewal."

As the second half of the album begins to unfold, Martin continues to mine different veins. "Steel City Eyes," nodding to Pittsburgh, where she received her Ph.D., swings, makes space for trumpeter Ben Wolkins' blowing and the leader's own scatting. The title track, capitalizing on Eldridge's beautiful piano work, offers restorative energy. "Lucianita," a sizzling number sung in Spanish, offers a flamenco- forward sound. And "Lady Liberty," featuring Ganz's guitar, celebrates the power and strength of women in a forthright fashion.

Arriving at the penultimate presentation, Martin shows her extreme comfort with laidback funk on "Step Into Your Essence." Thus named for a phrase that her mentor, vocalist Kate McGarry, offered up during a lesson, it is a statement of empowerment that grooves atop drummer Olman Piedra's pocket and sits extremely well in the mix. Then things come to a close with the touching "Moments," penned after Martin's grandfather had passed and drawn around memories in the absence of departed loved ones. Covering a tremendous amount of ground while truly coming into her own, Ellie Martin makes a serious impression as an artist with something to say on Verdant.

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