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Deborah Latz: Fig Tree
By"Blue Skies" is given a nervous, urban instrumental treatment, with Latz stretching the phrasing dramatically to the point where the phrasing threatens to lose momentum. But there is no loss, the power velocity is rock steady. Guitarist John Hart provides a jagged edge in his solo, as well as his obligato behind Latz. Jon Davis' piano adds a taste of the islands bolstered by Willard Dyson's deft drumming. "You'd Be So Nice..." is completely reimagined as a Shirley Horn blues slow-drag, introduced with piano and arco bass before establishing its reharmonized direction. Davis channels Gene Harris' blues sensibility in his solo.
In "I'm Having A Good Time," Latz finds her Billie Holiday muse, bolstered by Hart's tasty blues guitar and Davis' two-fisted piano playing. "Embraceable You" and "Corcovado" make an interesting internal diptych, the former experimental and bracing (Latz and bassist Parker duet) and the latter sleek and smooth, as breezy as it should be, again featuring Hart's handy guitar work. The closing "Moon River" is somber and slightly dissonant and easily the slowest tempo on the record. Singing slow is one of the most challenging things for a singer to do. Latz with there with the best of them: Horn and Rebecca Parris.
Latz's original compositions are provocative. "You Are" features Peter Apfelbaum tenor saxophone sparing with Latz to a draw, giving equal attention to both voices in this unusual duet. Edgy and unsettled "You Are" only anticipates the equally challenging "She was." Latz is not a devoted genre-breaker, opting to color within the lines, just sometimes she moves those lines.
Track Listing
Blue Skies; Hi-Fly; You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To; E Luxo So; I’m Having a Good Time; You Are; Fevgo; S’Wonderful; Fig Tree; Embraceable You; Corcovado; Ill Wind; She Was; Moon River.
Personnel
Deborah Latz: vocals; Jon Davis: piano; John Hart: acoustic and electric guitars; Ray Parker: bass; Willard Dyson: drums, percussion; Peter Apfelbaum: tenor and soprano saxophones, flute, percussion; Abdoulaye: voice (13).
Album information
Title: Fig Tree | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: June Moon Productions