| Jazz |
A note to aficionados of New Edge vocal jazz: this album is made for you, and be forewarned—you are in for a journey. Oneness is the record of Sivan Arbel’s transcendent venture beyond the confines of her own traditions, a celebration of the rich, global mosaic housed in Brooklyn’s cultural crucible. Known already as an artist of bold rhythmic exploration, with a voice All About Jazz has described as “angelic and elastic,” Sivan’s latest work will immerse you in a dreamlike soundscape that is as approachable as it is enchanting. Though I’m not typically drawn to this genre, one cannot deny that this album is exceptionally well-crafted.
Oneness embodies a solemn commitment to the idea that our shared humanity can transcend borders—not only geographic, but also creative. It is a symphony uniting Eastern and Western influences in harmony. Sivan’s journey of self-discovery leads her to collaborate with her neighbors: practicing ragas, discovering innovative rhythms in unstable meters, and ultimately liberating herself from traditional constraints to paint a vivid picture of unity through the vibrant mosaic of her community.
This album will likely leave few unmoved, as the ideas it presents alone justify the gentleness of the project. Naturally, this kind of work is not destined for large venues; rather, it will be especially rewarding in intimate spaces for up to 300 listeners, where the musicality can be fully appreciated. There, one can also savor the classical influences woven into this jazz creation. Sivan Arbel’s vocal technique draws upon classical roots, and Oneness has come to life through the essential contributions of Grammy-winning engineer and producer Fran Cathcart, renowned bansuri flutist Jay Gandhi, pianist Nick Hetko, and the superb rhythm section featuring percussionist Tripp Dudley, bassist Sam Weber, and drummer Evan Hyde.
In her performance, Sivan crafts a universe all her own, bordering on literature and poetry. At times, one wonders whether it is her lyrical flights or the words themselves that should be followed. In truth, it hardly matters, for it is the alchemy between her voice, her words, and the musicians that creates the unique allure of this project. Even the rendition of Everybody Wants to Rule the World takes on a fresh meaning in this version, both softer and more rock-infused than the original—a testament to how profoundly Sivan embodies this work.
Sivan has performed at festivals and venues worldwide, including the Minsk Jazz Festival, Bratislava Jazz Days, Lincoln Center in New York, the Boston Jazz Festival, and the 4020 Festival in Austria. In 2016, she was also invited to the Montreal Jazz Festival’s annual Jazz Composers’ Series.
So we welcome this album with an open heart and ear, for it takes a certain courage to embrace such tender vulnerability. In offering this, Oneness brings a touch of humanity to a world that surely needs it. We are pleased to present it as a “favorite pick.”
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, November 11th 2024
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