Best Albums list of 2013 - Marlbank

 

 

"An elegant display of craft within a demandingly exposed format. Lynn's vocals sound unmistakeably Winstone-like as they blend gracefully with pulsing flute figures and piano sweeps on Ralph Towner's Renewal. All the participants glow as one for the dreamy folk melody of Nikki Iles' Upon The Hill (on which Winstone herself guests), while Stanley and Lockrane are fleet and eloquent."

The Guardian

 

 

"An album of unexpected pleasure."

AP Reviews

 

 

"Melody, lyric, delivery, flute's ghostlike presence as he 'flies over Africa,' piano's probing presence. Magic! Another winner from Whirlwind. Nia Lynn has a deadpan cool delivery that adapts well to the material, a mix of wordless passages and intelligent phrasing of lyric and melody."

Bebop Spoken Here

 

 

"Her singing exhibits an integrity of breath and tone so seldom heard in the jazz sphere, where many vocalists machinate effects and tricks to lend body to their performance. Nia has no need for such contrivance and her straightforward delivery is perfect for this gentle though rich collage drawn from folk and jazz resources, delivered with truly musical lyricism, especially those passages without words."

Jazz Views CD Reviews

 

 

"The tracks flow beautifully, Nia mixing written words and scat singing, with Lockrane's wonderful flute work weaving gorgeous musical colous into the fabric, all underpinned by the driving but sensitive piano playing of Stanley. Altogether, an album full of delights."

Jazz Camera

 

 

"Pristine vocals with a strong technical command, singer Nia Lynn, here in a chamber jazz acoustic setting with flautist Gareth Lockrane and pianist Ross Stanley, plus a guesting Norma Winstone on the fourth track ‘Upon the Hill’, the Bannau trio named after the Welsh word for ‘beacon’ recorded this their third album at the Forge in London’s Camden Town."

Marlbank