Expressive warmth meets sophisticated cool, as Andrea synthesizes disparate influences into a very individual sound. She starts with jazz traditions, stirs in a generous serving of blue, and adds enough spice to win over jazz listeners of varying tastes, from those who enjoy a fresh take on a familiar song, to those with an ear for adventure.
Musicians:
Andrea Wolper: vocals, arrangements Kris Davis: piano Michael Howell: guitar Ken Filiano: bass Michael TA Thompson: soundrhythium
The four ensemble members have sterling reputations in their own right. Two of them-the widely admired, always-in-demand bassist Ken Filiano, and the former Dizzy Gillespie sideman Michael Howell-have been in musical partnership with Andrea for more than ten years. This is a working New York City-based band in which each member's individuality is welcomed, and spontaneity and discovery flourish.
Songs for people who want to hear both where jazz singing comes from and where it is today. The album seamlessly blends music from a variety of sources, such as the evergreen "Skylark," Andrea's haunting arrangement of a song from Broadway's "Spring Awakening," a revisited Buffy Sainte-Marie ballad, and originals like her saucy, swinging "The Girls in Their Dresses."
"Parallel Lives" stays with the production team (Todd Barkan, here as co-producer; Katherine Miller, recording engineer) from Andrea's last, highly acclaimed, release, "The Small Hours" (VarisOne.Jazz), which was widely praised for its excellent sound quality and singular attributes: Andrea's warmth and emotional bravery, her strong songwriting and unique arrangements, her ability to make music from different eras and genres hang together and seem entirely her own.
