Here we have the ninth album from Maria Jacobs, an American jazz vocalist, Christian singer songwriter and author, born of Syrian, Lebanese and Armenian descent. She is the Adjunct Professor of Applied Vocal Jazz at Kent State University, and this was recorded mostly at the Bop Stop Studio on January 9th, 2022 (there are two bonus studio cuts) with Rock Wehrmann (piano), Bryan Thomas (bass), and Jamey Haddad (drums). This is soft jazz, with a mix of jazz standards and a few self-composed, with Cole Porter’s “You’d Be Nice To Come Home To” being of particular note. Maria has a lovely jazz vocal style, with a superb range and a confidence which allows her to hit and hold lengthy high notes and also throw her voice around in competition with the band.

The use of vocals as a proper instrument is not solely restricted to jazz, but it is the genre where it appears to happen most and Maria knows just how to play around the notes while always adding and never detracting from the overall impact, Happy to scat, it is always totally in keeping with what is taking place around here. The rhythm section is busy, but always providing room while Wehrmann has a lovely touch on piano, never overplaying but ensuring he is there to provide support at times and moving the arrangement in different directions at others. The result is a jazz album where the band know each other and their place in the arrangements, with a singer who really knows how to control proceedings, so even though this is her ninth album it is a great place to start as an introduction.

Rating: 8/10

Links:
https://www.mariajacobs.com/