NEW RELEASES: FLORENCE JOELLE – LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL IF YOU LET IT; LUCIA CADOTSCH – SPEAK LOW; KYLIE AULDIST – FAMILY TREE

FLORENCE JOELLE – LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL IF YOU LET IT

A great sort of old-school vocal jazz session – one that takes its classic vibe so seriously, it was recorded in glorious mono! Yet even the lack of stereo separation can't dim the brilliance of vocalist Florence Joelle – who can sing equally well in French and English, which she does here throughout on a set of beautiful original tunes – numbers that were mostly penned by the singer herself, with a cool sort of postwar, left bank jazz-based sound – and set to backings by a cool combo that includes chromatic guitar lines from Thierry Courault, plus flute and light percussion – and a bit of added trombone and organ on a few cuts. Titles include "Wake Up Swinging", "Two & Two Don't Make Five", "One Step Forward Two Steps Back", "Chez Moi", "Sleepy Eyes", "Live Is Beautiful", and "Angel's Child". ~ Dusty Groove

LUCIA CADOTSCH – SPEAK LOW

Such a cool little record – one that's quite different than the usual sort of jazz vocal session, thanks to some very "mouthy" tenor work from Otis Sandsjo, who almost acts as a second sort of singer on the set! Lucia Cadotsch is in the lead, with just the bass of Petter Eldh as the third element in the set – and her own vocals are often mirrored by inflections from Otis on the tenor – with a really compelling sound that articulates a beautiful space between the lyrics and the basslines, and completely transforms the tunes! Cadotsch is a slightly moody singer, but the use of tenor and bass really transport her elsewhere – on titles that include "Slow Hot Wind", "Strange Fruit", "Ain't Got No I Got No Life", "Don't Explain", "Deep Song", "Some Other Spring", and "Gloomy Sunday". ~ Dusty Groove

KYLIE AULDIST – FAMILY TREE

A sweet change in sound from Kylie Auldist – an artist we know mostly for deep funk work with The Bamboos on backup – but who steps out here in a style that's got much more of an 80s soul vibe overall! The arrangements are full, funky, and beautifully suited to Kylie's voice – pushing her even more out front than before, with this soaring sort of energy that reminds us a lot of the first few solo albums that Chaka Kahn cut with Arif Mardin – stepping out on her own away from Rufus! The vibe here with Auldist is similar – proud, positive, and very much her own woman – answering to no one as she blows us away even more than before. Titles include "Sensational", "Too Easy", "Saturday Night", "No Change", "Warming Up The Sun", "Look Away", "Rewards", and "Good Time Girl".  ~ Dusty Groove