Synia Carroll: Water is My Song

Vocalist Synia Carroll's Water is My Song is a journey through musical fluidity. She gracefully navigates the currents of jazz with a collection of offbeat compositions inspired by the ebb and flow of water. The album is enriched by an ensemble of stellar musicians including pianist John di Martino, bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Jerome Jennings with guests including the impeccable tenor saxophonist Houston Person on two tracks.

The ten-track set opens with the Harold Arlen/Eric Koehler standard "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea." As Carroll begins her vocal, the glorious tone of Houston Person slides under her swinging interpretation, giving it depth and warmth. Carroll, along with pianist Jane Getz, wrote "Child Of The Times" with a lyric that combines a jazz and folk sensibility and is well suited to Carroll's voice. Additional background support is provided by Aaron Heick on soprano saxophone and Wesley Lima De Amorim on guitar.

Irving Berlin's "How Deep is The Ocean" is a duet with Carroll and bassist Kenny Davis. With his full-bodied tone and strong sense of rhythm leading the way, Carroll delivers a soft and luxuriant rendition of the number. For a change of pace, Carroll jumps into an Afro-Cuban beat with the Mongo Santamaria tune "Afro Blue." With percussion provided by Café, and background vocals from Beatriz Hernandez and David Oquendo, Carroll delivers a fulsome lyrical tour through the composition. The inclusion of the Lennon/McCartney gem "Norwegian Wood" is an acknowledgement by Carroll of her attachment to the music from an early age. Her interpretation is somewhat against the grain with a reflective approach, with Heick on flute and De Amorim on guitar adding to the harmonic layers.

The incomparable Houston Person returns on tenor saxophone for "Willow Weep For Me." Carroll's bluesy execution of the number is pitch-perfect, while Person fills the open spaces with subtle ruminations in his lush, loping fashion.