Zara McFarlane - Until Tomorrow

http://www.myspace.com/zaramcfarlane

Origine du Groupe : U.K

Style : Jazz

Sortie : 2011

By Zach Cole from http://potholesinmyblog.com



trans Zara McFarlane Until TomorrowWe’ll get the obvious out of the way right off the bat. Zara McFarlane’s Until Tomorrow is a deliberately retro exercise in jazz vocals, and an remarkably
well-executed one at that. Externally, the album art nods not-so-subtly to late-50’s Ella Fitzgerald, so it’s quite fitting that the opening jazz ballad, “More Than Mine” dates right back to that
era as well. However, it’s not merely McFarlane’s ability to recall her predecessors with striking accuracy that gives Until Tomorrow its backbone, but it’s the balance with which the album pools
various musical stylings together without once sounding jumbled or confused.



Until Tomorrow weaves between slinky swing tracks, be-bop and smooth ballads, while tossing around various instruments all the while. Many tracks are primarily piano-backed and barely whisked
with light percussion, which fits Zara’s warm vocals well. It’s on these tracks that listeners might be reminded of Brownswood contemporary Jose James. Other tracks are less structured, orienting
themselves around the freewheeling and experimental side of jazz. The standout track, “Feed the Spirit (The Children and Warlock) is a bass-heavy affair that has Zara doing her best Yukimi Nagano
for the first half, while the latter lets loose into an all out Coltrane mish-mash. It’s unorganized, unpredictable, and altogether satisfying. Meanwhile, the title track provides welcome
contrast as it is almost lullaby-worthy.



The album’s ability to pass between various sub-genres of jazz is impressive, but make no mistake – this is Zara’s stage from the very first note. Her vocals command your attention, not in the
Alicia-Keys-gonna-kill-my-vocal-chords way, but simply because she is able to gently exude deep emotion with each word. She has a profound discourse on the life of relationships and love, which
granted is not the most original of all topics, but Zara performs her songs with a level of authenticity that is not easily (or often) replicated.



In case there was any doubt about it before, this album just cements the fact that Brownswood, along with Tru Thoughts and a handful of others, stand steadily at the forefront of modern jazz. But
it should come as no surprise. With new artists like Zara McFarlane in the roster, this is an exciting time for the UK jazz scene with fresh voices emerging each year. Until Tomorrow is a
fascinating listen that at once hints at the past and the future simultaneously.

Tracklist :

01 More Than Mine 04:51

02 Captured (part 3) 04:17

03 Mama Done 03:45

04 Until Tomorrow 05:12

05 Blossom Tree 04:03

06 Feed the Spirit (The Children and the Warlock) 05:13

07 Waking Sleep (Thoughts) 02:36

08 Chiaroscuro 04:49

09 Desire 04:08

10 More Than Mine (alternate take) 04:41