A long time ago I reviewed a CD by singer and composer Aimée Allen. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she had a connection with music from an early age. During her childhood it was traditional jazz, and Aimée sang in a cappella jazz groups during her school days. After graduating, she moved to Paris, where she performed in jazz clubs and festivals. The deep connection between the French-speaking public and Brazilian bossa nova led her to found Les Bossa Novices, a Parisian group dedicated to bossa and jazz. Now she regularly performs in New York City, but also tours. Standards and Bossa are part of her repertoire, but she also performs original songs. On this new album she brings songs that deal with change, large and small, and the individual and collective actions that result from it. In addition, she leads the following ensemble: Grammy Award-nominated pianist Toru Dodo, world-renowned bassist François Moutin, drummer Kush Abadey, guitarist Tony Romano, and trumpeter Noah Allen, her cousin. Because through those adjustments, we are the instrument of that change. This is therefore music of catalysis and connection. 'Little Sunflower' is a cover by Freddie Hubbard & Al Jarreau, followed by the original 'Earth Is Waiting', about climate change. In it she sings that action is required. “Quantum Entanglements” is actually a meditation, followed by the Chick Corea medley “Crystal Silence / 500 Miles High”, actually a tribute. The classic 'Star Eyes' is largely delivered here partly as a duet between voice and drum. 'Love's Crescendo' floats on a sensual, soulful groove, after which 'Reaction Time' switches to an up-tempo drum 'n bass beat. Aimée wrote a text on Mozart's 'Mortally Immortal (Requiem)', so that it becomes a jazzy mass, which is dedicated to the victims of the Corona pandemic. This is followed by 4 more original songs, "The Comet's Tail", "Man Ripples Through Time" (a tribute to the late George Floyd), "Hidden Place" and "Worlds Collide", about 2 people uniting. An original facet of Aimée's talent, although I personally prefer Bossa nova.
		Website Aimée Allen Tracks: Little Sunflower Earth is Waiting Quantum Entanglements Crystal Silence / 500 Miles High Star Eyes Love’s Crescendo Reaction Time Mortally Immortal (Requiem) The Comet’s Tail Man Ripples Through Time Hidden Place Worlds Collide PLAYERS INSTRUMENT: Aimée Allen - voice Toru Dodo - piano François Moutin - bass Kush Abadey - drums Tony Romano - guitar (track 2) Noah Allen - trumpet (track 4) CREDITS: Aimée Allen - producer Michael Perez-Cisneros - sound engineer Misha Piatigorsky - sound editing Brian Montgomery - sound mixing Alan Silverman - mastering Janis Wilkins - photography Ksenia La Hun - illustrations Recorded at Big Orange Sheep in NYC on July 31 & August 1, 2021 TOUR DATES: European Tour: Saturday, October 15, 2022, 8pm Aimée Allen w/ Alex Webb Trio Hampstead Jazz Club The Duke of Hamilton 23-25 New End Hampstead, NW3 1JD London, England Tuesday, October 18, 2022, 8:30 pm Aimée Allen Quartet w/ Karim Blal, François & Louis Moutin Sunset 60 rue des Lombards 75001 Paris, France Friday, October 21, 2022, 7pm Aimée Allen Quartet w/ Karim Blal, François & Louis Moutin Chorus Avenue Mon-Repos 3 Lausanne, Switzerland 1005