By Kerilie McDowall | Published March 2020
Although her past releases have been ensemble-focused, Brenda Earle Stokes’ Solo Sessions Volume One features the solitude of her solo jazz piano, accompanied only by her voice. The 43-year-old’s vocals on her sixth album as a leader are at times throaty, with spotty articulation calling for key transposition, but arranger Stokes shrugs it off with a storm of swinging, heartfelt piano.
The recording, captured at a library in her hometown of Sarnia, Canada, originally was intended as a demo and has the mix dry on Stokes’ piano timbre, occasionally overpowering her vocals.
The opener, “If You Never Come To Me,” hints at Broadway and segues into bossa nova rhythms. Stokes’ composition “Standing” showcases leaping quartal intervals, backed with smooth lyricism. Not obsessing over a sense of the spectacular or extraordinary, the pianist instead revs up on eclecticism, centering her jazz improvisation and pop-jazz adventures. The left-hand stride blues featured on “How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone?” is paired with right-hand horn-like passages and simple shapes with a tritone flourish.
Stokes’ interpretation of Dave and Iola Brubeck’s powerful “Strange Meadowlark” has her solo flowing through starry chords, revisiting those stride excursions. “The Waltz’s” love story was penned by Stokes and spotlights sinuous 3/4 musings, while “East Of The Sun (West Of The Moon)” shimmers with energetic scatting and cheery piano, Stokes wrapping up the session with her adoration of the art form.
Solo Sessions Volume 1: If You Never Come To Me; Standing; Weaver Of Dreams; The Consequences Of Falling; How Long Has That Evening Train Been Gone?; Ladies In Mercedes; I Can Let Go Now; Strange Meadowlark; The Power Of Love; The Waltz; East Of The Sun (West Of The Moon). (51:17)
Personnel: Brenda Earle Stokes, piano, vocals.
