Joanna Wallfisch: The Origin of Adjustable Things

Recommendation

There is today a revelatory voice afoot in the world of independent vocal jazz, and that divine gift belongs to Joanna Wallfisch. From a family of musicians and herself a Guildhall School of Music Masters graduate, this captivating British-born vocalist’s sophomore record, whimsically and intriguingly entitled The Origin of Adjustable Things and available on Sunnyside Records, finds her in tandem with French-American jazz pianist extraordinaire Dan Tepfer. Their significant individual talents, evident mutual respect and artistic compatibility make for a sublimely meshed duo and an album of surprising lushness that casts a sublime spell and weaves listeners tightly into its artistic fabric.

This tantalizing twelve-song collection – of which eight are originals by Joanna – opens with a perfect invitation into her world; “This Is How You Make Me Feel” reveals her to be a possessor of true jazz chops as she exhibits some very tasteful scatting. With a music box-like quality to the piano part, the song and its arrangement are both playful and dazzlingly creative.

Penned following her move across the pond to NYC, both “Satin Grey” and “Brighton Beach” beautifully highlight her clever word play and creative approach to painting a picture with sounds and words. The 12th and final track, a cover of the Jimmy Scott standard “Never Let Me Go,” is a sterling example of Ms. Wallfisch’s use and understanding of space. She utters the lyric, as throughout the album, with purity and a prayer-like quality. Dan Tepfer’s beautifully thought-filled and delicate playing is masterfully demonstrated here.

Another song worthy of special mention is a plaintive and extremely well arranged cover of the Radiohead tune “Creep.” This addition adds a surprising layer of intrigue, particularly for a jazz album. The impressive time signature mastery alone is worth a listen or three.

“Satellite,” the third track and featured listening selection, is a glistening example of Joanna’s creative arranging, incorporating vocalese harmony and hints of a vocoder being layered into the arrangement. This tune is also to be featured in a soon-to-be-released silver screen film.

Some reviewers have compared her to the likes of Joni Mitchell, and while that comparison is apt, Ms. Wallfisch is truly in a category all her own. Her crystalline clear voice is deeply communicative, honest and full of vulnerability. She both sings and writes like a poet. This album, laced with beauty, love and brim-filled with mystery, unequivocally comes with my highest recommendation.

Album Overview:

Hailed by the great Fred Hersch as “a real discovery—a first-rate musician in every way,” British vocalist Joanna Wallfisch has built an impressive profile since her move to New York from London in 2012. She takes a bold step forward in her creative journey with The Origin of Adjustable Things, a stark and expressive duo album with rising piano master Dan Tepfer. In the mysterious poetry of her lyrics, the freshness of her harmonic choices and the expansiveness of her sonic palette, Wallfisch sets a high bar as she and Tepfer explore a musical universe of their own making.

Wallfisch commands attention right away with the lilting 7/8 meter and wordless percussive line of “This Is How You Make Me Feel,” interweaving and harmonizing with Tepfer’s piano in an inventive dance. “This album is very much a result of the personal and musical connection we share,” says Wallfisch of Tepfer, who served as engineer on the main recording session as well.

Source: Sunnyside Records

Joanna Wallfisch

Joanna Wallfisch, vocals Hailing from an immediate and extended family of accomplished musicians (her mother a baroque violinist, father a cellist, one brother a film composer and conductor, the other an opera singer and cellist), Joanna earned a Masters in Jazz Performance from London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 2012. Since moving to New York from her native London in September, 2012, she has fashioned a musical identity of her own, drawing on jazz, theater, cabaret, dance, performance art and other disciplines. She plays piano and flute, works extensively with live vocal looping, and has even been known to do skillful maneuvers on a trapeze while singing and playing ukulele onstage. Her debut CD Wild Swan featured jazz talents on the order of Rob Garcia, Joe Martin and Sam Newsome. Her 2015 follow-up, The Origin of Adjustable Things (Sunnyside), is an intricate, sonically enveloping duo project with acclaimed pianist Dan Tepfer. She has had the opportunity to work with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and  has also appeared with the Lee Konitz Quartet. Other notable collaborators include Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto, bassist Chris Tordini, vibraphonist/percussionist James Shipp, and drummer Colin Stranahan. Source: www.joannawallfisch.org

Dan Tepfer

Dan Tepfer, piano Dan Tepfer (born 1982 in Paris, France) is a French-American jazz pianist and composer, best known for his 2011 album Goldberg Variations/Variations. Tepfer grew up in Paris, France in a musical and scientific family. He received a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics from the University of Edinburgh and a master’s degree in jazz piano performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he works as a pianist and composer.  He tours around the world, with frequent appearances in Europe in particular. Since 2009, he has released a series of critically acclaimed recordings on Sunnyside Records, working in trio, duo and solo formats. He is also known since 2007 as one of the most frequent collaborators of jazz icon Lee Konitz. Source: Wikipedia

Thinking about purchasing this album? Follow this link for more album details or to make the purchase. Buy it now

“Not just recommended. Guaranteed.”
We stand behind every album featured on Expedition Audio. Our objective is to take the monetary risk out of music exploration. If you order this album from HBDirect.com and do not like it you can return it for a refund.