Home by Jessica Schultz

“Home” is an apt name for this beautiful collection of sparkling arrangements and striking original compositions assembled by Jessica Schultz and her collaborators, pianist/composer and producer Marcus Reynolds, bassist Dan Schulte, drummer Ken Ollis and percussionist Jeff Moehle. The music brings to mind a well-appointed dwelling. Full of light-splashed rooms, imaginatively detailed touches, and doors leading to surprising and revealing places.

Through it all Jessica’s clear voice dances, croons, caresses and dreams. She is delicate and strong, sultry and airy by turns, as she invites us to come in and relax for awhile.

“Home” presents a beguiling soundtrack of shifting sounds and moods. There is the playful lightness of “Garden,” (a Marcus Reynolds original) and Jessica’s treatment of the Paul Simon classic ‘Rene and Georgette Magritte with their Dog After the War.” There is the simple lyricism of Caetano Veloso’s “Sertao,” and Reynolds’ hymn-like “Song,” and Joni Mitchell’s “Blue.”

There are surprises, like Marcus’ arrangement of “Sure on this Shining Night,” which transforms the classical art song into a lazy latin float down a river of jazz harmonies, with Jessica’s voice as languid as a hot summer evening. Even the Great American Songbook, represented here by Gershwin’s “The Man I Love,” Carmichael’s “Skylark,” Berlin’s “How Deep is the Ocean” is viewed from a new angle, one that reflects a different quality of light.

All of which leaves me thinking that if this is what home is like for Jessica Schultz, I sure want to live there.

-Darrell Grant

jessicaschultz.com