Record Reviews

TAMARA OBROVAC ~ CANTO AMOROSO ALESSA 1045 (Barcode: 9004501010453) ~ CROATIA ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the tenth album by the superb Croatian vocalist / songwriter Tamara ObrovacFind albums by this artist. Recorded with her Transhistria EnsembleFind albums by this artist, which includes Slovenian guitarist Uros RakovecFind albums by this artist, Italian accordionist Fausto BeccalossiFind albums by this artist, Slovenian bassist Ziga GolobFind albums by this artist and Croatian drummer Krunoslav LevacicFind albums by this artist, the album presents ten songs composed by Obrovac, who also wrote the lyrics to seven of the songs. She sings in Croatian, except for one of the songs which features lyrics in Armenian. The album was brilliantly recorded at the Artesuono Studio in Udine (Italy) and engineered by Stefano AmerioFind albums by this artist. The music is a completely unique amalgam of Ethnic and Jazz influences, mostly from the Mediterranean region, stretching from Spain in the West to Turkey in the East. These heartbreaking love songs are all very intimate, with a superbly arranged accompaniment, which gently emphasizes the dramatic music and emotional vocals. The purely acoustic, delicate and fragile sound, is absolutely ideal, and in spite of its seemingly limited power manages to express and convey the messages with remarkable strength and clarity. Obrovac is in full command of her vocal abilities, using her voice wisely and expressively, with many theatrical tricks of the trade. She is confident and highly professional, able to use the lyrics and vocalese parts effectively and convincingly. On some of the songs she sounds like a Flamenco singer, on others like a Gypsy, yet on others like a French or Italian chansonniere; always at her best, always sensuous and most importantly always superbly musical. This album takes some serious listening in order to penetrate its multilayered complexity, its instrumental virtuosity and its magic atmosphere. For people living in the Mediterranean Cultures this music simply flows within their bloodstream, but others might have to make an effort and open up to grasp it in full. In any case this is an absolutely delightful Jazz-World Fusion recording, which should be able to make many listeners around the world extremely happy. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 23/05/2017Posted: 23/05/2017

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