(vocal jazz) [WEB] Sarah McKenzie - We Could Be Lovers - 2015, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Beware of first impressions. Because no, Sarah McKenzie is not merely the umpteenth, bland smooth jazz pianist destined for oblivion within months. At a youthful 27, the Australian songstress is here to stay! The artist enters the folds of the prestigious label Impulse! with her newest record, We Could Be Lovers, and it is a masterpiece. At first, McKenzie asserted herself as an artistic voice of flamboyant classicism; she knew the staples of the repertoire, performing them well without descending into mere imitation. This young woman is extremely ambitious (‘I do not want to follow others, but, rather, to push the envelope’), and this, her third album, following 2011’s Do Not Tempt Me and 2012’s Close Your Eyes, makes good of her potential. The record mixes real class with original compositions, standards, and hidden treasures from the history of jazz. Her cap is tipped to Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Duke Ellington, Oscar Peterson, Gene Harris, and Shirley Horn; the talented McKenzie is well-schooled in history, having graduated from the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Here, Sarah McKenzie is accompanied by trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, guitarist Hugh Stuckey, bassist Alex Boneham, drummer Marco Valeri, and saxophonists Vosvany Terry and Troy Roberts. In her voice, the Great American Songbook sparkles. Be it a sensual ballad or a rampant bossanova, the Australian garnishes everything she touches. An elegance is present that elevates the disc on each individual moment. This sincere elegance - deep, and with human face - is evidence of something much more than just a good student. Sarah McKenzie is a real discovery.

Sarah McKenzie - vocals
Ingrid Jensen - trumpet
Warren Wolf - vibraphon
Hugh Stuckey - guitar
Alex Boneham - bass
Marco Valeri - drums
Vosvany Terry - saxophone
Troy Roberts - saxophone