Record Reviews

CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT ~ WITH EVERY BREATH I TAKE NONESUCH 075597896121 (Barcode: 075597896121) ~ USA ~ Jazz Recorded: 2025 Released: 2026 This is the 9th album by American Jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin SalvantFind albums by this artist. She is accompanied by pianist Sullivan FortnerFind albums by this artist, bassist David WongFind albums by this artist, drummer Kush AbadeyFind albums by this artist and a forty-eight-piece Dutch orchestra, the Metropole OrkestFind albums by this artist, directed by Jules BuckleyFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten tracks, one of which is an original by Salvant and the rest are standards, all arranged by Darcy James ArgueFind albums by this artist. This is the first orchestral album by Salvant, a project a few years in making, and finally realized. The selection of material and the arrangements all point towards finally entering the “grown up” phrase, which transfers her to the “serious league” of the Jazz singers, rather that breaking new ground and flirting with avant-garde. The listeners will judge if she succeeded in her endeavor, but for me the fact that she manages to keep the aesthetics intact and proves that she can, if she wants, to be as “classy” (from Classic) as Sarah VaughanFind albums by this artist, Ella FitzgeraldFind albums by this artist or Barbara StreisandFind albums by this artist. Although she gets a lot of help from the Orchestra and the instrumentalists behind her, she still is a wonderful singer, which nobody can deny. I love this stuff, or at least the old sucker in me for great interpretation of a standard I have heard many a time before. For me, she is still as hot as an icing on a cake. Overall, this is an excellent vocal Jazz album by one of its best American representatives on the contemporary vocal Jazz scene, who constantly keeps developing her Art. Like all of her albums, it is a no brainer for every Jazz lover, especially those who enjoy female vocals recordings. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 22/07/2026Posted: 22/07/2026

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TOMASZ STANKO ~ POLIN MHZP 001 (Barcode: 2052538267767) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 Polin, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, commissioned this album from Polish Jazz trumpeter / composer Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist as part of the celebrations connected with the opening of the permanent exhibition of the museum. The album comprises of five original compositions by Stanko, performed by a quintet, which in addition to Stanko includes American musicians: saxophonist Ravi ColtraneFind albums by this artist, pianist David VirellesFind albums by this artist, bassist Dezron DouglasFind albums by this artist and drummer Kush AbadeyFind albums by this artist, or in short the Ravi Coltrane Quartet. Virelles is also a member of Stanko´s New York Quartet. This is not the first time Stanko cooperates with a museum, as he also wrote music for the Warsaw Uprising Museum back in 2005 (see the "Wolnosc W SierpniuFind albums with this title" album). However, in contrast to that occasion, where the music can be contextually connected to the tragic Warsaw Uprising of 1944, the current album seems to have absolutely no connection whatsoever, neither to Jews, not their 1,000 years long history in Poland and certainly not to the cataclysmic epilogue of that history. Therefore the entire circumstance of this commission somehow misses the point completely. The actual music, judged on its own merits, is of course what one might expect from a musician / composer of Stanko´s standing, i.e. professional, beautifully played and well recorded. Sadly not much more can be said about it, as Stanko seems to have run out of steam as a composer and mostly recycles ideas used previously, distancing himself from the unique rough sound and Polish melancholy, which characterized his music for decades, simply to embrace American mainstream, which leaves ambition, challenge and exploration to others. There are some traces of genius and thrill, but alas they remain just traces. Of course this is still a beautiful Jazz album, timing just under forty minutes and full of nice melodic and inoffensive music, which sounds great when played in the background, but disappears like an early morning mist by noon. For people, who grew up listening to Stanko, the Icon, this is less than they probably expected?

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