Voice - Instrument Duos

Here are three examples of vocalists working in close partnership with either a pianist or guitarist, all producing excellent results.

Edward Simon
Femeninas
ArtistShare
2023

Pianist Edward Simon gets sole credit on the cover of this album, but this is equally a feature for vocalist Magos Herrera who appears on every track. The set mostly celebrates the work of women songwriters from various Latin American countries. Herrera's singing exudes passion in a variety of styles here as Simon's trio, with Reuben Rogers on bass and Adam Cruz on drums, plays off her nimbly and sensitively. Herrea's voice comes off trembling and intimate on the Chilean "Decimas," cruises serenely through the Brazilian samba rhythm of "Dunas" and projects gentle but firm emotion on the swaying Argentine rhythms of "Tierra movida." Simon also includes three pieces of his own in the program including a lovely ballad, "Naked Sky" where Herrera sings in English with her voice fitting snugly over the trio's lightly seductive groove.

Roxana Amed -Frank Carlberg
Los Trabajos Y Las Noches
Sony Music Latin
2023

On their album, vocalist Roxana Amed and pianist Frank Carlberg celebrate the work of Argentinian poet, Alejandra Pizarnik. Carlberg writes music for her poetry that carries formality and a sense of deep mystery which is powerfully expressed by Amed's rich, dramatic voice. She gives a haunting depth to the halting rhythm of "Fronteras Inutiles," plays effectively off the stark piano and tenor sax blasts of "Crepusculo" and sensually caresses the slow unwinding melody of "Pido En Silencio." Adam Kolker's clarinet and saxophone work is often another integral part of the album's overall mood. The project has a fragile darkness to it that evokes the twilight shadows of Ran Blake's noirish music

Gretchen Parlato & Lionel Loueke
Lean In
Edition
2023

Gretchen Parlato and Lionel Loueke have been friends and collaborators for over twenty years and this album showcases how well their distinctive styles can mesh together to create infectious and joyful music. Parlato's small but vivid voice travels with Loueke's guitar and vocal clicks through funk, soul, African and Latin settings. "Astronauta" carries a warm Brazilian sensuality, while Loueke gets into a deeply funky groove on "If I Knew" as Parlato wails and bassist Burniss Travis and drummer Mark Guiliana work out. The high point of the album is the insistent marriage of guitar and voice on "Painful Joy." Parlato soars wordlessly through the melody as Loueke runs through intricate finger-work and background voices fill up the rest of the space. It is the best part of an album full of haunting beauty.

Tracks and Personnel

Femeninas

Tracks: Feminina; Decimas; La flor de la canela; Gracias a la vida; Palabras; Dunas; Mujer remolino; Naked Sky; Tierra movida; Buleria; Hacia donde.

Personnel: Edward Simon: piano, keyboards; Magos Herrera: vocals; Reuben Rogers: bass; Adam Cruz: drums; Luis Quintero: percussion; Romero Lubambo: guitar (1,6).

Los Trabajos Y La Noches

Tracks: Pido El Silencio; Antes; Moradas; Fronteras Inutiles; Signos; Los Trabajos Y Las Noches; Crepusculo; Verde Paraiso; Nombrarte; Amantes; Del Otro Lado.

Personnel: Roxana Amed: voice; Adam Kolker: Bb clarinet, bass clarinet, alto clarinet, tenor saxophone; Frank Carlberg: piano; Simon Willson: bass; Michael Sarin: drums.

Lean In

Tracks: Akwe; I Miss You; If I Knew; Okagbe Interlude; Astronauta; Mi Wa Se Interlude; Muse; Nonvignon; Lean In; Painful Joy; Du We Interlude; Walking After You.

Personnel: Gretchen Parlato: voice, percussion; Lionel Loueke; guitar, voice, percussion; Mark Guiliana: drums, percussion (2,3,6,7,9,11,12); Burniss Travis: electric bass (3,6,11); Marley Guiliana: voice (3,6,12); Lisa Loueke: voice (3).

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