| Jazz |
Barely back from her tour of France, Michelle Lordi, one of today’s most luminous and inspired jazz vocalists, graces us with a true gem: a live album as exquisitely recorded as it is masterfully performed. Surrounded by musicians who provide the perfect setting for her voice, Lordi delivers her finest work to date, housed in a sonic setting that feels like a velvet-lined jewelry box.
At the heart of this musical alchemy is bassist, composer, and arranger Matthew Parrish. Known for his precision and emotive power, Parrish brings a quiet magic to projects close to his heart. His creative partnership with Lordi spans nearly a decade, having produced and performed on her albums Dream a Little Dream (2017), Break Up With The Sound (2021), and Two Moons (2023). But Live at the Dirty Dog marks a turning point, the first time the two artists share equal billing, an artistic balance that feels not only natural but overdue. Parrish’s steady hand and musical vision define the tone of the album with remarkable clarity and finesse.
For Parrish, Live at the Dirty Dog is also a long-awaited return to the spotlight as a bandleader. His 2001 debut, Circles, was met with critical acclaim: All About Jazz hailed it as “an essential addition to the contemporary acoustic jazz canon,” while AllMusic called it “undoubtedly one of the most impressive debuts of 2001.” In the years since, Parrish has become a sought-after collaborator, performing and recording with legends like Al Grey, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Regina Carter, Freddy Cole, Houston Person, Wynton Marsalis, Orrin Evans, and Marion McPartland.
Lordi and Parrish approach music from distinct yet complementary vantage points. Lordi brings a refined, almost urban intellectualism to her interpretations, while Parrish’s grounding in tradition is filtered through a distinctly contemporary sensibility.
Together, they elevate each other’s artistry in ways that are both subtle and profound. Their decision to revisit and reimagine classic repertoire is a high-stakes artistic endeavor, one that few attempt and even fewer accomplish with such originality.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in their rendition of Michel Legrand’s “I Will Wait For You.” A song that, in its original form, often veered too far into melodrama, is here transformed into a hauntingly beautiful jazz ballad. It is, quite simply, the version one wishes had existed all along. Stripped of excess and infused with nuance, their performance reveals the song’s emotional core with astonishing clarity.
Every track on the album follows suit, offering not mere covers but intelligent reinterpretations, executed with an effortlessness that belies the depth of thought behind them. The result is an album of rare sincerity, music that resonates not because of technical showmanship, but because of the honesty with which it is delivered.
Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “a vocalist of profound emotional sensitivity with a voice of breathtaking beauty,” Michelle Lordi has steadily established herself as one of the most distinctive voices in modern jazz. DownBeat praised her for her “deep and impeccable tone,” while All About Jazz calls her “one of today’s finest singers.” Japan’s JazzLife magazine lauded her work as “fresh” and her original music as “powerful.”
Though Live at the Dirty Dog may be considered a bridge between studio albums, it stands firmly on its own. It surprises, delights, and above all, breathes new life into the art of the jazz vocal performance.
Lordi, Parrish, and their gifted collaborators deliver an album that is not only elegant but enduring, an offering that reaffirms the timeless power of artistry grounded in authenticity.
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, July 9th 2025
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Soon – To buy this album
Musicians :
Michelle Lordi, voice
Matthew Parrish, double bass
Randy Napoleon, guitar
Xavier Davis, piano
Tracklist :
Close Your Eyes
Chega De Saudade (No More Blues)
When Stars Go Blue
I Want To Be Happy
I Will Wait For You
True Love
Recorded at LIVE AT DIRTY DOG JAZZ CAFE on March : 24,25, 2023
Produced and mixed by Matthew Parrish