Mélange
Self-produced
New Orleans is home to many singers and performers who cross genres such as John Boutté, Davell Crawford, and the late James Booker. Daughter of a New York Jazz guitarist, singer-songwriter Louise Cappi is another Crescent City artist who mixes Afro-Cuban, soul, rock, funk, bossa nova, and blues in her performances as evidenced by this album. She is supported by a variety of musicians including pianist Jenna McSwain (who also arranged the four Cappi originals here), Paul Longstreth, who adds keyboards, and trombonist Russell Ramirez.
Cappi is not a dreamy chanteuse. She establishes her vocal personality with clean enunciation, horn-like phrasing, and tunefulness. This is evident on her original, “Talk To Me," that opens this recording with pianist McSwain soloing. There is a country-soul flavor to Randy Newman's "Guilty" with Alex Krahe adding some twangy guitar. One of the high points of this album is her paean to New Orleans, "Bella Nola” with Ramirez's growling trombone embellishing her lyrics. Another stunning original "It Is What It Is" that starts as a lament with a jubilant Afro-Cuban section before returning to a close. Also of note is her rendition of “Summertime," during which she scats and interpolates Van Morrison's "Moondance."
Accompanied solely by pianist McSwain, she closes this album with a marvelous rendition of Leon Russell's "A Song For You." There are a couple of spots when I might have preferred if she had tempered her vocal, but that is a matter of personal taste. "Mélange" is a terrific recording showcasing Louise Cappi's dynamic vocals and musical personality.
I received my review copy from a publicist. Here is a video of her in performance.
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