Adam Hill and Luisa Guiza - El Sueno (Self Release) [Jazz]

Adam Hill is a bassist, composer, songwriter, and stylistically restless musician who flits between orchestras, hoe downs, dark jazz basements, experimental backrooms, solo endeavour, and group performance. He lives on an island in the Atlantic, albeit connected by a bridge to the Canadian mainland, and it sounds like the herd separation is doing his creativity the world of good.

Twenty Twenty-Six's project is a refreshingly eclectic series of duets. Having already explored celestial realms with the harp-playing Caedda Enright, then down-and-dirty blues with Chris Corrigan, he's gone further south for some sunshine on "El Sueño"; teaming up with Colombian-born, Montreal-residing vocalist Luisa Güiza, and what a pair.

Hill gets the ball rolling with a simple but seductive bass refrain to remind us of his jazz chops. Compelling groove locked, aided by some finger snapping and light flamenco claps, a subtle synth string floats over the top, politely inviting Güiza to the stage, and what a voice. It's rare that a singer sounds this distinctive, and good, but she managed not to remind me of anyone less, apart from the singularity of Macy Gray when I first heard her; her voice simultaneously fragile, forceful, aching and artful. Her tale is largely sung in Spanish, but she slyly sneaks in some English lines, not to mention some serious scatting. If you're Spanish is better than mine, please feel free to translate the exact nature of her dream, but sometimes it's not what you say but how you say it, and I for one don't need any more encouragement. If that wasn't enough, the jazz vocal vibe eventually goes off message, and floats off into a minute-long ambient sunset finale. Double sold.

If that's not enough, and singular vocals and jazz deviance are your thing then I hope you've come across JJJJJerome Ellis?

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Playlist Companion

Find Hill in the Slow Jazz Playlist.