“Sick Woman – looking for a healthy man”
Review in "The American Foothill"
I’m not much of a music critic. If I like it, I review it. Simple. In my opinion, Contessa Black possesses one of the loveliest, most supple young jazz voices I’ve heard in years. Sunland-Tujunga seems to be a breeding ground for amazing bands and vocalists. Meeting Contessa in the TFP offices, was really an understatement of what was to come. Look, I won’t try to wow you with pseudo experience of music, but I will tell you, I forgot that there is a band in the background that provides a wonderful platform for Contessa to launch her songs from. Jonathan Richards: Upright & Electric Bass, Michael McTaggart: Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Daniel Richardson: Sax, Jonathan Pinson: Drums, Kris Bowers: Piano, Nick Vaters: Electric Guitar (Sick Woman) and Gary Mallaber: Drums (Devilish Guy). It was all local artists that came together to make this album a reality. Not only do they collaborate on refreshing new arrangements of songs from the jazz lady, but the fact that they all live locally, means they know what it takes to be friends. What I found in Contessa is a pure jazz spirit who respects a song. Even when going out on an improvisatory limb, she never lets its essence slip away. When I first heard her songs, I immediately thought of a young Billy Holiday, and it continued to flow. This is a must buy for anyone that wants to take a smooth journey into time.