Simply Miraculous

Self-Released, 2019

8/10

Listen to Simply Miraculous

An educator at Brigham Young University, Kristen R. Bromley holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts, and a Masters in Jazz Studies, and with Simply Miraculous she puts her immense talent on display alongside a pair of esteemed musicians across folk and blues inspired jazz sounds.

The title track gets the listen underway with intricate playing from Bromley as Matt Larson (bass) and Jay Lawrence (drums) back her up with fluid precision, and “The L’s Are Si”llent” follows with a calm groove that resides in calculated elegance.

Further along, “Winter Sunrise” moves from sparse and moody to a quicker, danceable pace, while “Rhythm I’ve Got…”Quarky” As It Maybe” is indeed the most quirky tune here were Bromley and company manipulate melody with great results. The disc ends on “I Know My Redeemer; He Lives!”, where Bromfield’s soft and agile guitar guides us through a warm, reflective exit.

An album that almost never happened after Bromley suffered an upper arm break that came with nerve damage, this debut album is nothing short of a miracle after being told she likely only regain a small amount of use of her hand and arm. Though we don’t want to diminish the contributions from Larson and Lawrence, Bromley’s acrobatics on guitar are nothing short of brilliant here, and alone are worth the price of admission.

Travels well with: Larry Corban– Emergence; Coniece Washington– Shades Of Shirley Horn