Brought to you by the Franco-British jazz singer Emily Allison, this extraordinary album transports the listener to an imaginary world where everything and anything is possible. After working alongside famous names on the international jazz scene (duo with David Linx on LIFT's album 'First Floor', guest vocalist on Diederik Wissels' 'Pasarela') Emily now leads her own group.
This hybrid formation of classical and jazz instruments both supports and draws inspiration from the storyteller/vocalist, who in turn feeds off the energy the musicians provide. Despite its harmonic com- plexity, technical virtuosity and refusal to compromise on melody, the music never for a moment loses sight of the underlying playfulness of the lyrics. For the listener, the experience is inspiring, sometimes unsettling, but ultimately reassuring; we cannot fail to be moved by the timeless folk wisdom of the lyrics.
Songs of Old's ten tracks were composed and arranged by Emily herself for her sextet, for the four distinguished ladies who make up 'In Praise of Folly', the string quartet who feature on four songs, as well as for several unexpected backing vocalists. Sound wizard Vincent Debast was tasked with captur- ing the spirit and playfulness of this alternative world.
‘Songs of Old’, Emily Allison Group
Emily Allison (vocals, comp, arr.), Guillaume Vierset (g, SFX), Sylvain Debaisieux (ten sax), David Thom- aere (p, Rhodes, SFX), Boris Schmidt (db, bg), Paul Berne (dms)
- Released : 01/09/2021
