Macha Gharibian, Phenomenal Women, Rue Bleue Meredith Records ***1/2

Macha Gharibian, Phenomenal Women Macha Gharibian, Phenomenal Women
Macha Gharibian, Phenomenal Women cover art
Home Macha Gharibian, Phenomenal Women, Rue Bleue Meredith Records ***1/2

Adventurous and absorbing singer, songwriter, pianist Macha Gharibian is ostensibly inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem ‘Phenomenal Woman.’

Her treatment is non-standard and has a poetic intensity of its own that is a parallel running to the peerless text.

Strong and resilient

A tribute to the strength and resilience of women, Gharibian of Armenian lineage sings in English, Armenian, French, Portuguese and Arabic.

Advertisement


‘Survoler La Lune’ is the fourth of the album’s 13 tracks. Gharibian sings and alternates between piano and Fender Rhodes on the album. She is along with fellow singers Lea Maria Fries, Linda Oláh and Isabel Sörling plus Sylvain “Kenny” Ruby on bass guitar & keys and drummer Dré Pallemaerts. Phenomenal Women was recorded at a studio in the Île-de-France commune of Villetaneuse and another closer into Paris itself in March and May last year.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.   

Maya Angelou

Gharibian debuted in 2013 – more recent albums include 2020’s Joy Ascension.

Bremen live performance video interpreting ‘Georgian Mood’ at Jazzahead four years ago

Macha Gharibian’s latest proves eclectic and jazz relatable

Jazz relatable but strict interpretations of genre are fairly unimportant in this case.

If you like Kandace Springs and Tigran Hamasyan, artists who also roam widely stylistically, drop everything to hear this – today.

MORE FROM MARLBANK

Previous Post
Dana Masters

GIG OF 2025, Live review - Ian Shaw and Dana Masters, Pizza Express Jazz Club, London ****

Next Post
John Zorn :  The Bagatelles vol. 1 - Mary Halvorson Quartet

John Zorn,  The Bagatelles vol. 1 - Mary Halvorson Quartet, Tzadik ****

Advertisement

Discover more from marlbank

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading