Long before she began captivating audiences across New York City and the Hudson Valley with her polished blend of pop, R&B, and jazz, vocalist Jaana Narsipur was an ’80s kid—immersed in the golden age of MTV, radio hits, and carefully curated mixtapes. That formative musical world now takes center stage in her second album, The Re-Collection, set for release on April 24, 2026. The project is both a tribute and a transformation: a Brit-centric, deeply personal reimagining of iconic—and sometimes overlooked—songs that shaped her early listening life.
Rather than simply reworking familiar tunes through a jazz lens, Narsipur approaches each song as a storyteller, reshaping them with layered arrangements, harmonic sophistication, and an intimate emotional core. The result is a collection that feels both nostalgic and entirely new. As she describes it, the album became “an act of remembering and reimagining—holding onto what made these songs meaningful while discovering new ways to tell their stories.”
At the heart of the album is a close creative partnership with pianist and music director Nicki Adams. Together, they crafted arrangements that preserve the spirit of the originals while opening them up into expressive, improvisation-friendly frameworks. The ensemble supporting Narsipur is equally impressive, featuring returning collaborators drummer/percussionist Joe Abba and tenor saxophonist Sean Nowell, alongside Grammy-nominated trumpeter Wayne Tucker, bassist Marco Panascia, trombonist Alex Jeun, and a distinguished string trio of violinist Meg Okura, violist Hannah Selin, and cellist Laura Masferrer. The group moves seamlessly between intimate trio interplay, groove-driven horn sections, and lush, cinematic string textures, creating a richly varied sonic landscape.
Narsipur’s musical foundation is as diverse as the album itself. She began studying classical voice and piano as a teenager, later earning a Bachelor’s degree in Voice and Music History from Northwestern University. Her time in Chicago immersed her in a vibrant jazz scene, shaping her listening habits and artistic instincts. She went on to complete a master’s degree in Jazz Performance at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in 2013. Alongside her performing career, she has spent more than 15 years as an educator, teaching voice, choral music, theory, history, and piano to students of all ages.
The Re-Collection unfolds as a stylistically eclectic journey, with each track offering its own emotional and sonic identity. Swing Out Sister’s “Breakout” sets the tone with an upbeat pop-funk energy, driven by lively horn arrangements and a confident, soul-infused vocal performance. Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” begins with a striking a cappella introduction before blossoming into a layered, atmospheric groove. Basia’s “Time and Tide” shimmers with rhythmic warmth, while Simply Red’s “Holding Back the Years,” reimagined in 6/8, becomes a slow, introspective meditation anchored by expressive trumpet lines.
Julia Fordham’s “Behind Closed Doors” is transformed into a delicate piano ballad that gradually builds in intensity, while Kate Bush’s “Love and Anger” is rendered through ambient textures and subtle rhythmic motion. On U2’s “With or Without You,” Narsipur crafts a minimalist, sensual arrangement that grows organically, and Eurythmics’ “Here Comes the Rain Again” blends trio interplay with evocative string writing to capture a sense of quiet melancholy.
The album also embraces playfulness and groove, particularly on Joe Jackson’s “You Can’t Get What You Want,” which bursts with rhythmic energy, punchy brass, and spirited scatting. Closing the record is Sting’s “Sister Moon,” a smoky, late-night interpretation steeped in moody saxophone lines and sultry vocal phrasing, leaving a lasting, atmospheric impression.
With The Re-Collection, Jaana Narsipur offers more than a reinterpretation of beloved songs—she creates a bridge between past and present, honoring the music that shaped her while asserting her own distinct artistic voice. It’s a project rooted in memory, elevated by craft, and brought to life through collaboration, resulting in a listening experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly original.
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