Record Reviews

EMMA NAGY ~ SET TO FACE NOT ON LABEL ~ HUNGARY ~ Jazz Recorded: 2019 Released: 2019 This is the debut album by Hungarian vocalist Emma NagyFind albums by this artist and her quintet, which also includes guitarist Peter CsehFind albums by this artist, pianist Tamas PappFind albums by this artist, bassist Abel DenesFind albums by this artist and drummer Adam KlauszFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original compositions contributed by all five musicians. From the very first note it becomes immediately apparent that these young musicians have a completely original approach to Jazz, which is fresh, surprising and extremely effective. The leader sings superb vocalese, using the entire scope of vocal expression, which brings fond memories of the singers (mostly female) that revolutionized vocal Jazz from the 1960’s on. Although completely unusual, the singing remains well within the modern Jazz idiom, avoiding Avant-Garde / Free Improvisation and being superbly melodic, despite the freedom of expression utilized. The instrumentalists are all brilliant, as it often happens these days with extremely young players, who seem to be at the early stages of their career, but play like veteran pros. Cseh plays gutsy / quirky guitar lines, that sparkle like sun on water, almost touching Fusion but somehow avoiding its triviality. Papp is both the romantic and the adventurer. Denes keeps the music flowing, with his clockwork pulsations. Klausz plays around with the rhythmic fabric, keeping the time but also moving around it. The resulting music is beyond any classification, and every attentive listener will find it probably quite different, with dissimilar associations going through the head. But regardless of the labeling, this music is simply stunningly unusual, inventive and leaves the listener waiting for more. I have had the opportunity to listen to this band (with a slightly different lineup) live during my recent visit to the Jazz Juniors competition in Krakow, Poland, where they won, completely deservedly, the first prize. They were simply beyond any competition! Overall this is definitely one of the most rejuvenating musical experiences I have encountered in a long time. The band has a second album, which I have yet to hear and review, but assuredly it will be as good as this one. Find this music out and savor it, and you will never regret it!

Updated: 11/11/2021Posted: 11/11/2021

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