On I Still Rise, vocalist Lisa Rich approaches a wide-ranging collection of standards and original material with an improviser’s instincts, reshaping familiar melodies through supple phrasing, rhythmic displacement and expressive scat singing. The drummerless setting gives the music an unusually open character, with Marc Copland on piano and Drew Gress on bass responding closely to […]
On I Still Rise, vocalist Lisa Rich approaches a wide-ranging collection of standards and original material with an improviser’s instincts, reshaping familiar melodies through supple phrasing, rhythmic displacement and expressive scat singing. The drummerless setting gives the music an unusually open character, with Marc Copland on piano and Drew Gress on bass responding closely to Rich’s every turn, while Dave Ballou on trumpet adds color. Rich’s own compositions sit nicely alongside works by David Mann, Redd Evans, Bill Evans, Carol Hall, Bruno Martino, Bruno Brighetti, Paul Desmond, Denny Zeitlin, Wayne Shorter, Kitty Margolis, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Jay Livingston, Ray Evans, Thelonious Monk and lyricist Mike Ferro. Rich leads an intimate conversation, moving easily between reflection, playfulness, protest and renewal. The result is a spacious session that confirms Rich’s return as an active and engaging jazz vocalist.
