Heather Ward - Honeysweet
Jazz
Washington, U.S.
Overall Impression: "Honeysweet" is an exciting new release from Seattle-based jazz vocalist Heather Ward. The title track from her debut solo album, this tune features a swinging jazz-blues hybrid sound that holds true to its twelve-bar form, adorned with acrobatic improvisation and spontaneous invention that's especially evident throughout an extended series of solos. Ward is backed by a crackerjack quartet consisting of tenor sax, electric guitar, upright bass and drums, leaving plenty of space for her smoky, sultry alto to shine as she delivers wryly suggestive lyrics and even takes a turn soloing with a fiery syllabic scat performance. Jazz and blues aficionados will enjoy the spirited sound and exceptional musicianship of Heather Ward's "Honeysweet", available now on all major music platforms.
Strongest Point(s): Outstanding production, excellent mix. Fantastic tonal balance and clarity. Great energy, straight from the top. Amazing band that really swings hard. Nice guitar vamps, plenty of nifty rhythmic variations and chord inversions throughout. The sax does an awesome job of complementing the vocal. Terrific series of solo sections, each building upon the last. Tremendous vocal performance; awesome power without sacrificing accuracy or control, and I really loved the scat solo. Brilliant lyrics that make use of a fairly common blues trope to create something new and original. Should seem both familiar and novel to listeners. All in all, this is an incredible jazz-blues number and a great choice of a leadoff track for your debut album. Stellar work by all involved!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Jazz, Blues, Vocal Jazz, Jazz Blues
Artist target suggestions: Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Rosemary Clooney, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Jane Moheit, Holly Cole, Marlena Shaw, Betty Carter, Bessie Smith, Diane Reeves, Nina Simone, Dinah Washington, Shirley Horn
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About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers.