It seems that every generation has its issues to address. Today it seems like claiming one’s “Identity” and feeling like you are part of some larger group. These two albums address the social-political implications with the fervency of a cable news network.
Between each of the songs by Berklee College grad Jonah Francese you get a series of “interludes” with piano work by Brett White accompanying vocal vignettes by a wide swath of people discussing their social identity, ranging from being Asian, black, female and just about every other box to check on a census. Between the “WOKE” moments you actually get some impressive big band charts, like the soulful “Rich Man’s Empty Pocket”, the laconic “Down The River” the aggressive “Destroyer Of Ignorance” with rocking guitar and strutting groove “To Ash”. The music is as clever and original as is the victim mentality of each speaker.
Vocalist Thana Alexa released an impressive debut in 2014 in Ode To Heroes. Since then she has spent much of her time singing on husband Antonio Sanchez’s riveting albums and touring along with the socially conscious groom’s exciting post bop band. This album is also an “ode” of sorts, exploring her identity as a woman (the title of the album being the Croatian word for “She”). Alexa explores various aspects of womanhood, inspired by her participation in the 2017 Women’s March in Washington DC.
Along with Sanchez on drums/keyboards, she is supported by Carmen Staaf/key, Jordan Peters/g and Matt Brewer/b for the core team and brings along various special guests for the various pieces. Her voice and delivery this time around, different than her previous work, is more assertive and defiant in approach, sounding a bit like vintage Carly Simon, as she’s teamed with the ROSA vocal group on the dramatic and bold title track. Regina Carter brings her violin to join into the 11 minute opus of “Pachamana” that is a wide ranging journey of emotion, while she does a glorious aria with Staaf on “Set Free”. Political issues abound, as she scats and sings with Becca Stevens on “He Said She Said” and goes atmospheric with voices and mysteriously ominous moods on “Teardrop”. Alexa packs a solid punch here, both musically and socially, coming across like a musical muse for CNN.
Trumpeter and composer Kate Amrine gives a socially poignant series of messages that are spelled out in the liner notes of this MSNBC of an album. A series of musicians including Roberta Michel/af, Carrie Frey/viola, Amanda Gookin/cel, Leanne Friedman/af, Ford Fourqurean/bcl, Kate Barmotina/viola-voc, Alia Kuhnert-Maddi Lusby/tp-voc and narrator Kyra Sims. Musically, you get squawks and long tones on ‘Skin”, scratchy strings on the parlor-esque “What Are We Doing To Ourselves,” a choir with reeds on the opus of “It Wasn’t Something That We Could Control” and lots of political narration on pieces like the mix of vaudeville and rap on ”Close Fight”. Is this music for a Safe Space?