By Michele L. Simms-Burton | Published August 2019
Aimee Nolte’s voice is beautiful, sonorous and reflective on her latest album, Looking For The Answers. The singer arranged and produced every track on the album, lending a consistent aesthetic and laid-back vibe to most of the cuts here.
What separates Nolte from other vocalists and composers is the poetry and storytelling quality of her compositions, with lyrics reminiscent of Joni Mitchell—just minus Mitchell’s playfulness. “Save Me One Last Time” speaks to the bandleader’s seriousness as a lyricist when the theme of lost love is addressed: “If I keep on falling, I’ll be lost forever/ Save me one last time.”
Nolte exhibits her jazz chops on “Bye Bye Blackbird,” when she pleasantly scats as John Clayton accompanies her on bass. Despite instrumentalists coming and going track to track, Looking is pretty even-keeled listen. Doug Webb and John Reilly on woodwinds round out “The Loveliest Girl” and “Save Me One Last Time,” respectively. And drummer James Yoshizawa delivers throughout the recording with a soft, but steady, attention to maintaining the rhythm, making his performances inconspicuous, until the listener realizes that his reliability helps drive the entire album.
“For A While” closes things out with Nolte on piano, sans vocals, letting listeners take in the bandleader’s full abilities at the keyboard while she paints a chromatic ballad that’s sure to delight.
Looking For The Answers: The Loveliest Girl; Looking For The Answers; Falling Snow; This One Hurts; I Gotta Get; Save Me One Last Time; Bye Bye Blackbird; All Too Soon; So In Love; You Should’ve; For A While. (50:49)
Personnel: Aimee Nolte, vocals, piano, organ, synth bass; James Yoshizawa, drums; John Clayton (7), Bruce Lett, bass; Mike Scott (2, 3, 5,10), Jason Neubauer (1), guitar; Doug Webb, John Reilly, woodwinds.
