Amethyst

MCC, 2019

by Tom Haugen

8/10

Listen to Amethyst

The Turkish born, now Los Angeles artist returns with another batch of avant-garde exploration that has Melbreeze and company interpreting tunes by Gershwin, Paul Simon and Billie Holiday, among others.

“Summertime” gets the album off to a stylish, beat friendly affair of club friendly sounds, and “The Sound Of Silence” follows with an initially quieter setting that allows Melbreeze’s rich vocals to shine before moving into electronic areas.

Elsewhere, “Everything Must Change” manipulates mood well with a jazz lounge feeling amid expressive singing, while “Friendless” brings in some bluesy guitars from Oz Noy on one of the best tracks present.

Near the end, “Greensleeves” recruits plenty of instruments on a busy and artistic adventure, and the percussively strong “Hallelujah” gets frantic yet controlled on an example of meticulous fusion with plenty of grooves. “Missing You” ends the listen with a breezy twist on the John Waite popularized classic that does justice to the ‘80s hit.

Although Amethyst was released as an import years ago, it’s more easily accessible with this release, and fans of jazz fusion, strong vocal work and bouts of ambient, experimental ideas will be thrilled.

Travels well with: Oz Noy– Who Gives A Funk; Sara Marlowe– True Stories