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There are still quite a few jazz hounds—uncompromising musical
geniuses both young and old—in these mediocre, pop-addled and
dumbed-down times. But these jazz cats take themselves too
seriously, mostly Miles Davis-worshipping bebop purists who play
only for the musical intelligentsia—which is themselves.
Skarlet, on the other hand, effortlessly
delivers jazz that, by turns, is steamy and naughty; toe-tapping
giddily infectious; silken, soothing and blue; and stark, haunting
and tragic. She sings to you and reaches out like no other jazz
singer of today does.
With The Powder Room Stories, you travel through
time—from New Orleans Dixieland of the early 1910s, to the big
band-style swing of the 1930s, to the bebop of the 1940s, and on to
Afro-Cuban/Brazilian jazz of the 1960s. But instead of preserving
relics as hallowed museum pieces, Skarlet infuses these musical
genres with all the youthful zest, sensuality and allure of your
granddaddy’s pin-up girl.
She delightfully brings much needed verve to
jazz. Its time shine those brass horns and put on the that zoot
suit, it’s Skarlet time.
Her jazz versions of seminal punk band
Blondie’s hit “Call Me” and protest folk singer Susan Magno
Fernando feminist clarion call “Babae Ka” sound just right, as
if they always had been jazz standards.
By being irreverent and playful, Skarlet has
more than anyone hewn faithfully to the true spirit of jazz—music
that is improvisational, gutsy and soulful. By crafting youth and
boisterous music masterfully, she has proven without doubt that she
is most mature in her artistry.
Most importantly, Skarlet makes jazz that is
soulful. Others play just to show off their musical virtuosity and
brag about their fidelity to their musical roots. Many others
confuse flaccid, boring and “easy listening” music with jazz.
Skarlet does what few rarely do—deliver jazz
music that is candid, vivid and confessional.
On her compositions “Anguish,” “Words
Behind the Tears” and most notably “Myawong,” Skarlet gets up
close and personal and divulges her anguish and pain in detail.
Pardon the pun, but this is truly emo jazz.
The Powder Room Stories, released by Candid
records in 2006, won for Skarlet Best Jazz Recording Artist and Best
Producer at the 2007 Awit Awards. Buy this record and it will surely
win you over as well.
For details, visit http://skarlet.i.ph or http://candid-ph.candidrecords.com
-- Rome Jorge
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