Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Synia Carroll: Water is My Song

Synia Carroll: Water is My Song

By Pierre Giroux
June 11, 2024
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Vocalist

Synia Carroll

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Synia Carroll's Water is My Song is a journey through musical fluidity. She gracefully navigates the currents of jazz with a collection of offbeat compositions inspired by the ebb and flow of water. The album is enriched by an ensemble of stellar musicians including pianist

John di Martino

piano
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">John di Martino, bassist

Kenny Davis

bass
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Davis and drummer

Jerome Jennings

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerome Jennings with guests including the impeccable tenor saxophonist

Houston Person

saxophone, tenor
b.1934

" data-original-title="" title="">Houston Person on two tracks.

The ten-track set opens with the Harold Arlen/Eric Koehler standard "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea." As Carroll begins her vocal, the glorious tone of Houston Person slides under her swinging interpretation, giving it depth and warmth. Carroll, along with pianist

Jane Getz

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Jane Getz, wrote "Child Of The Times" with a lyric that combines a jazz and folk sensibility and is well suited to Carroll's voice. Additional background support is provided by

Aaron Heick

saxophone, soprano

" data-original-title="" title="">Aaron Heick on soprano saxophone and

Wesley Lima De Amorim

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Wesley Lima De Amorim on guitar.

Irving Berlin's "How Deep is The Ocean" is a duet with Carroll and bassist Kenny Davis. With his full-bodied tone and strong sense of rhythm leading the way, Carroll delivers a soft and luxuriant rendition of the number. For a change of pace, Carroll jumps into an Afro-Cuban beat with the

Mongo Santamaria

percussion
1917 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Mongo Santamaria tune "Afro Blue." With percussion provided by

Café

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Café, and background vocals from Beatriz Hernandez and

David Oquendo

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">David Oquendo, Carroll delivers a fulsome lyrical tour through the composition. The inclusion of the Lennon/McCartney gem "Norwegian Wood" is an acknowledgement by Carroll of her attachment to the music from an early age. Her interpretation is somewhat against the grain with a reflective approach, with Heick on flute and De Amorim on guitar adding to the harmonic layers.

The incomparable Houston Person returns on tenor saxophone for "Willow Weep For Me." Carroll's bluesy execution of the number is pitch-perfect, while Person fills the open spaces with subtle ruminations in his lush, loping fashion.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea; Child Of The Times; Wade In The Water; How Deep Is The Ocean; Learning How To Fly; Afro Blue; Alfonsina Y El Mar; Norwegian Wood; Willow Weep For Me; The Water Is Wide.

Personnel

Synia Carroll

vocals

John di Martino

piano

Kenny Davis

bass

Jerome Jennings

drums

Aaron Heick

saxophone, soprano

David Oquendo

vocals

Houston Person

saxophone, tenor

Additional Instrumentation

Cafe: percussion; Will Galison: harmonica; Beatriz Hernandez: vocals; Wesley Lima De Amorim: guitar.

Album information

Title: Water is My Song | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Clarion Jazz

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