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Brigitte Beraha

Prelude to a Kiss

Fmr

Milan-born Ms Beraha has made an album that really stands out of the crowd. Much credit must go to the musicians supporting her, whose sound has been captured beautifully by engineer Justin Underhill, with special mention for the sympathetic comping and swinging solos by Barry Green, whose playing is outstanding.

I probably like Brigitte's voice so much because, spurred on by this outstanding rhythm section, she swings considerably more than her contemporaries.

The liner notes make comparisons with Norma Winstone, Flora Purim and Annie Ross (Wardell Gray's 'Twisted' is included), but already there's plenty of evidence of an individual sound and style.

There are some outstanding treatments of standards, which bring the even more hackneyed ones back to life. 'Prelude to a Kiss' (with just bass and Ingrid Laubrock's soulful, expressive tenor at its most evocative), 'I Loves You Porgy' (just with Green), Jobim's 'Retrato Em Branco', 'Over the Rainbow', an unusual reharmonised version of 'Love for Sale'... almost every track is excellent.

And she can write, too, as witnessed by the strong opener, 'Got No Blues' and the Purim-esque samba, 'Sunlight On Your Face'. Kenny Wheeler, Cleo Lane and bassist Rufus Reid are already fans. Add me to the list.’’

Tony Hall (Jazzwise)

 

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Sunlight on Your Face