| Jazz |
Not all of Lauren Henderson’s albums are of equal quality. Like many artists, she goes through more experimental periods. For example, her previous album “Musa” did not convince us, whereas this one is a marvel of interpretation. What makes Lauren’s albums so charming is the comedic aspect that she manages perfectly, thanks to her background as an actress.
Conjuring benefits from top-notch musicians, including Joel Ross on vibraphones, Eric Wheeler on bass, and Joe Dyson on drums, while Gabe Schneider and Nick Tannura share guitar duties, as do pianists Sean Mason and John Chin, who all contributed to the lush magic of “La Bruja” and “expertly support the seductive atmosphere of Latin-Black-Jazz fusion” (Alex Henderson, New York City Jazz Record).
Throughout this album, one can sense that Lauren has approached each track from the right angle. Under a languorous aspect, there is truly some of the most beautiful interpretation work I’ve heard from female jazz artists in the past decade, as this album is also Lauren Henderson’s tenth.
Paired with her naturally articulate and warm timbre, Henderson’s craftsmanship stands out as deeply perceptive and meticulously measured. Listeners can feel this precision throughout Conjuring, especially in Henderson’s selection of reimagined standards, which include “That Old Black Magic,” “Day Dream,” “It’s Magic,” and “I Wish You Love.” She opts for subtlety throughout her repertoire, embracing her distinctive contralto and soft tones while exploring her own connection to sounds and ideas that date back as early as the 1940s.
It is also worth noting that five tracks on this album are originals, with the last track being a Charles Trenet song titled “I Wish You Love” or in French “Que reste-t-il de nos amours?”. So, if you appreciate beautiful voices, masterful interpretations, and remarkable musicians, you will undoubtedly fall under the spell of Conjuring, which we have classified as one of our “must-haves.”
Thierry De Clemensat
Correspondent in USA
Bayou Blue News – Bayou Blue Radio – Paris-Move
PARIS-MOVE, May 7th 2023
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