| World Jazz |
A Brazilian singer in New York. A meeting place where worlds collide: the supple rhythms of Brazilian jazz, the elaborate textures of baroque opera, and a voice that carries both with conviction. Pursuit of a Pulse is not just another album, it is an immersion into a world both intricate and alluring, a revelation of an artist who, in my view, belongs among the defining voices of 21st-century jazz.
At its core, the record embodies a ceaseless quest for that elusive beat, the vital pulse that reminds us why music matters, why it slips under the skin and resonates deep within. Jamile pays homage to living composers and to the radical innovators of earlier generations, summoning both the heartbeat of those still among us and the ancestral pulse that has guided music across centuries. In doing so, she makes a statement both clear and defiant: jazz endures, not as a relic, but as a living art form, advanced by those bold enough to follow its path while charting new ones of their own.
Born and raised in Brazil but flourishing in New York, Jamile is an artist whose artistry extends far beyond her instrument. Her love of languages, her intimacy with a wide range of musical traditions, and her instinct for style are paired with a hunger for transcendence, the willingness to strip everything away for the sake of the music. A singer of resolute identity, Jamile thrives in the multiplicity of her education and influences. Her voice is unique, unmistakably her own. Versatility and virtuosity often drive her into almost obsessive quests for songs that strike a deeply spiritual chord within her, yielding a repertoire that is as wide-ranging as it is rarely heard. The selections on Pursuit of a Pulse reflect nothing less than a lifelong search, performed with a band of formidable New York jazz players who listen as much as they play, attentive always to the deeper meaning behind each note.
Comparisons may be tempting. One might reach for the lineage of Brazilian jazz singers past, Astrud Gilberto, Tania Maria—but such parallels risk missing the point. Jamile draws as much from classical and baroque traditions as she does from samba and bossa nova; the rest is purely her own imagination. Over the years, her close partnership with pianist Miki Yamanaka has grown into a near-telepathic collaboration, birthing a sound at once intimate and distinct. Yamanaka’s trio brings muscle and color to the ensemble, layering new textures into an already dynamic landscape. Saxophonist Steve Wilson, a longtime mentor to Jamile and a presence on her previous two albums, lends this project his signature forward-looking imagery, expanding the sonic palette even further.
This kind of evolution, it must be said, is rare. It is possible only with vocalists who carry within them a deep, lived culture, a sincerity and erudition that cannot be faked. In Jamile’s case, there is a conscious dramaturgy in her vocal delivery. She is not merely a singer; she is a commanding interpreter. Add to that lyrics of absolute poetic clarity and sincerity, and perhaps we begin to define what makes her singular.
The album itself emerged from two concerts, followed by a studio recording in Vancouver. It opens with a bold reimagining of Olivier Messiaen’s O sacrum convivium! originally a four-part choral motet set to Latin prose. Here, Jamile has written her own lyrics and reshaped the piece into a meditation on the sacredness of nature and the life force it shelters. The arrangement invites the listener to step into a living forest, where kenari seeds and avian flutes enhance the sensory atmosphere. Through collective breath and movement, Prayer to the Invisible Forces of the Forest (O sacrum convivium!) summons the spirits of creatures and elements that make up our world.
For those drawn to contemporary, evolving jazz, this record is a gift. It offers not only the originality of its compositions but also the sheer radiance of Jamile’s voice—a voice capable of carrying the pulse of an art form into its next chapter.
Thierry De Clemensat
Member at Jazz Journalists Association
USA correspondent for Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief – Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, September 2nd 2025
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Musicians:
Jamile, vocvals guitar
Steve Wilson, alto saxophone, alto flute
Miki Yamanaka, piano
Pablo Menares, bass
Jimmy McBride, drums
Track Listing:
Prayer To The Invisible Forces Of The Forest (O Sacrum Convivium!)
Céu De Brasília
Come Running To Me
Timeless Portraits And Dreams
Jogral
Come With Me To The River
Another Day In The Mind
Passarinhadeira
Bodas De Prata / Quatro Cantos
Vale O Escrito