Virginia MacDonald: Last Call at Dimitri's

It is rare for a debut album to emerge as a contender for "year-end best-of" listicles. An exception to the rule may well be In Search Of..., the superb debut release by clarinetist Virginia MacDonald. A debut as a leader, that is: before stepping into the spotlight herself, MacDonald had already appeared on some twenty recordings as a collaborator.

If a leader's debut is often the sum of a musician's experiences up to that point, In Search Of... is a testament to the remarkable breadth of experience MacDonald has accumulated at a young age. Joined by Geoffrey Keezer (piano), Ira Coleman (bass) and Curtis Nowosad (drums), with vocalist Laura Anglade appearing on selected tracks, the Canadian clarinetist delivers breathtaking readings of standards such as Charles Mingus' "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" and Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust," while, perhaps more importantly, showcasing a compelling compositional voice on originals like "Last Call at Dimitri's."

The result is a work that reveals MacDonald's ability to span the spectrum from modern-minded traditionalist to roots-conscious innovator—all anchored by a clarinet sound that is consistently rich, expressive, and never less than captivating.