Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:15
Size: 108.2 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2015
Art: Front
[3:27] 1. Little Black Train
[3:19] 2. Azure
[4:09] 3. Money
[5:08] 4. What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
[3:53] 5. From Silence
[4:35] 6. Blue Railroad Train
[6:55] 7. Heroes
[4:17] 8. Hacia Donde
[4:03] 9. Your Long Journey
[4:33] 10. Oshun
[2:52] 11. Solitude
If you’ve ever had to witness a parent or loved one suffer with cancer, you know the profound darkness that can engender. Especially in the late evenings, when you’re left all alone with your thoughts. For solace, some turn to literature, others to prayer, still others to things that numb the senses. And luckily for us, some, like Indra Rios-Moore, turn to music.
During a period in which her mother was battling the disease, and Indra herself was adjusting to new motherhood, she found comfort listening late nights to an eclectic collection of songs, previously recorded by other artists ranging from Duke Ellington to Doc Watson to David Bowie, that she would end up covering on Heartland under the guiding hand of producer Larry Klein, well known for his work with Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman and many other fine vocalists. Heartland was largely recorded over a 3-day period just a month after Indra’s mother had died, and what Indra, her band, and Larry have created in the aftermath of her passing is something quite beautiful.
Lest anyone get the wrong idea, Heartland is by no means a dark or “sad” album, nor do the songs themselves have anything directly to do with illness or loss; indeed, the album has its share of up-tempo tracks to complement the ballads and slower arrangements, most notably its opening track and compelling lead single, “Little Black Train,” which we recommended in a “First Listen” article in July. I mention the circumstances of Indra’s mother’s illness only to provide listeners with context that may help explain the depth and intensity of some of her vocal performances here, especially on the album’s emotional centerpiece, “From Silence,” a stunningly lovely track showcasing her warm upper register and spine tingling ability to hold a note for meaning, not just for affectation (listen at 2:45 to her extend the word “eyes” like no one quite has before).
Some readers may be skeptical regarding whether an album of covers of original jazz, rock and Americana compositions can hang together as a cohesive artistic expression, much less be of interest to soul music fans. The answer is that Indra, and Larry with his considerable feel for the heart of a composition, have taken the essence of these songs and reimagined them largely as a mélange of blues, soul and jazz that cuts across genres. Credit for the appealing soundscape here also must be given to the small ensemble of exceptional supporting musicians --Denmark-based bassist Thomas Sejthen, guitarist Uffe Steen, sax player Benjamin Traerup (also Indra’s husband), and drummer Jay Bellerose of Los Angeles -- who skillfully capture the spirit of the originals and unify the record stylistically but play with an elegant restraint that pushes Indra’s vocals to center stage. It’s the notes they don’t play, and the freedom they in turn give Indra, that in part make this work so well. ~Robb Patryk
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