Meltem Ege’s Solitude unfolds as a transcontinental tapestry of sound, weaving together her warm, supple voice and intricate compositional sensibility into a subtly daring jazz statement. Recorded partly in Los Angeles with vocalist Theo Bleckmann, guitarist Derek Bomback, bassist Miller Wrenn, drummer Matthew Elton Smith, plus a string quartet and Sarpay Özçağatay on flute, and […]
Meltem Ege’s Solitude unfolds as a transcontinental tapestry of sound, weaving together her warm, supple voice and intricate compositional sensibility into a subtly daring jazz statement. Recorded partly in Los Angeles with vocalist Theo Bleckmann, guitarist Derek Bomback, bassist Miller Wrenn, drummer Matthew Elton Smith, plus a string quartet and Sarpay Özçağatay on flute, and partly in Istanbul with Önder Focan on guitar, Ozan Musluoğlu on bass, Serkan Alagök on drums, Senova Ülker on trumpet and Bulut Gülen on trombone. the album balances chamber-jazz intimacy with cross-cultural rhythmic vitality. Whether she slips from English into Turkish mid-phrase or scat-tingles a samba-inflected groove, Ege’s artistry never feels self-conscious. With arrangements that embrace unexpected harmonic turns, lush strings, flute flourishes and passionate interplay, Ege brings listeners into a very personal space, in this compelling work of emotional honesty and depth.
