Gabriele Trancina
Of Sailing Ships and the Stars in Your Eyes
Rainchant Eclectic Records
2017

Polyglot would be an appropriate descriptor for a German-born, Parisian chanteuse, with Brazilian stylings, who is considered a cross between Ute Lemper and Tania Maria. This is what we have in Gabriele Trancina, whose fourth release (and first since 2010), Of Sailing Ships and the Stars in Your Eyes, demonstrates the singer's firm grasp across styles, genre, and, yes, languages. Joined by husband and pianist Joe Vincent Trancina, who also provides the arrangements, and a fine rhythm section, Trancina provides an even dozen Brazilian-Latin infused original and standard selections. She sings in French ("Je Crois Entendre Encore"), Portuguese ("Vera Cruz"), and German ("Ein Alter Tibetteppich"). Trancina's singing is seamless flowing from one language to the next making this recording very much a World music recording. The singer's voice is singular and well-balanced, capable of low purrs and assertive exuberance. Refined and fine is Of Sailing Ships and the Stars in Your Eyes.

Rondi Charleston
Resilience
Self Produced
2017

Where Gabriele Trancina is a polyglot, Rondi Charleston is a polymath. Charleston has been, in turn, and actor and opera singer at Julliard, an investigative journalist at ABC, where she worked as a producer with Diane Sawyer, and presently, a jazz singer with now, six recordings to her credit. Her newest offering, Resilience is helmed by guitarist/music director Dave Stryker. Charleston has previously worked with pianist Lynne Arriale on several projects. What Stryker brings to the mix a muted funky vide that prevents the performances from being too rote perfect. The majority of the selections are Charleston/Stryker originals save for "Joy Spring," "The Sunny Side of the Street," and "I've Got the World on a String" by the usual suspects. Charleston is comfortable at all tempos, something she a Stryker like to tinker with. Neither fear throwing changeups with this music and they accomplish much in doing so. Forward-thinking and bold, Resilience offers much to many types of listeners.

Julie Benko, an actress, singer, song writer,
Introducing Julie Benko
Self Produced
2017

A debut recording, Introducing Julie Benko, brings to ear another polymath, Julie Benko, whose experience boasts acting for stage (Including Broadway) and screen, singing, and composing. She is a bit polyglot, with a certain fluency in Spanish, Italian, and Hebrew, a cultural mixture that lends Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" a certain multicultural panache. Benko and pianist/partner