Reviews for Delicious Chemistry


ALL ABOUT JAZZ

Contemporary jazz vocalist Juliet Kelly remains accessible in her quest to interpret original material that members from all factions of the jazz world can enjoy. Convincing in her interpretations, yet laid-back with a comfortable groove, she delivers each original song with subtle passion.

The extensive range of Kelly's contralto voice lets her reach out with open arms and a genuine, heartfelt demeanor. She surrounds herself with a fine band of like-minded jazz artists who deliver original concepts on target. Their sound remains contemporary while weaving an exotic thread through its presentation.

On “Delicious Chemistry,” she transports the listener to a distant land through acoustic sounds and a heartfelt appeal. Her “I Wish You Love” is performed as an intimate vocal/guitar duet. “Black Rose,” a tribute to Nina Simone, carries a smooth jazz texture while spreading its message with comfortable overtones. “Unicorn Dream” represents a winning formula with its combination of Kelly's passionate message and her band's acoustic accompaniment. Together, they're both exotic and convincing.

With “Parallel Universe” and several other selections, the singer weaves a comfortable tango pattern into her contemporary interpretation. It's her secret ingredient. The tango effect matches her vocal delivery and keeps the session both exotic and alive. Recommended, Delicious Chemistry appeals to a wide audience.

BBC MUSIC

Second albums can be a disappointment. Too often an artist's best ideas evaporate after their first record, but that's not the case here. Londoner Juliet Kelly's second album proves that she's on an upward curve as a singer/songwriter. Like most long-loved albums Delicious Chemistry demands repeated listening before you're hooked, but then you'll want to play it to everyone you know.

Juliet doesn't regard her self-penned songs as 'dark', she says they're 'uplifting melancholy'. This is one positive woman! She sends ex-lovers packing without blame in "I Wish You Love" and "Letting You Go", but sets her to-the-point lyrics against ominous melodies. Seb Rochford and Tom Barlow, highly respected London-scene jazzers and the mainstay of her first album, are back again to weave their haunting fabric of bass and drums. Dense, complex vocal harmonies ooze through "Letting You Go", Seb's drums dancing around the bass as it hits you right in the groin chakra.

While the rhythm section remains the same, eminent guests make Delicious Chemistry a varied and satisfying listen. Byron Wallen plays a haunting trumpet solo on the smooth-funk "Secret", and Omar Puente - the brilliant Cuban violinist - lights up "Guardian Angel" with a melancholy and persistence that sustains Juliet's mantra 'keep believing in yourself'. On "Alone Again" Roger Beaujolais gets spooky on the vibes, while Juliet's yearning molasses voice and the strikingly simple instrumentation invite comparisons with Cassandra Wilson.

Most of Juliet's songs come to her fully formed in dreams. "Unicorn Dream" is one of these and has the airy feel of a Scandinavian piece. Tick-tock drums, Carl Orr's exceptionally light touch on guitar and Juliet's controlled and beautiful vocals are a hypnotic combination. In contrast, "Parallel Universe" is a catchy song with the hallmarks of a foot-tapping standard. It was inspired by Sliding Doors, a film about a life extrapolated in 2 directions, and Juliet draws the words and rhythm out like chewing gum. Result - a perfect amalgam of vivid image and mournful Latin soundtrack.

In Delicious Chemistry the elements of restrained instrumentation, intelligent arrangement and superbly controlled vocals come together into a powerful compound. File under 'self-development soul/jazz' and give a copy to a friend in need.

KATHRYN SHACKLETON

BIRMINGHAM EVENING MAIL

Juliet Kelly is an immensely talented musician as this album made up entirely of her own compositions clearly shows. Her vocals are clear, crisp and drenched with emotion without ever overdoing it. She has a lightness of touch heard in the very best of Cassandra Wilson, her compositions fit her sensuous voice like a warm glove and the stellar collection of guest musicians are a tribute to the quality of this recording.

The bulk of the music comes from a superb and subtle trio with guest appearances from Byron Wallen - outstanding on the opening track, the brilliant Cuban violinist Omar Puente is featured on 4 tracks and joined on the finale by Courtney Pine.

This is an outstanding album from first to last.

ALAN CROSS

JAZZWISE **** (4 stars)

Where Aphrodite's Child, Juliet Kelly's powerful and eloquent debut recording, bravely limited itself to just a brace of covers, Delicious Chemistry goes even further. All 11 songs emanate from the singer's pen, and why not? As Kelly has stated previously in these pages, jazz offers an inordinate amount of creative freedom and almost limitless expressive possibilities, and it doesn't get more intensely expressive than writing and singing your own songs. From the loping groove of the album opener "Secret" to the concluding emotive tribute to Nina Simone, "Black Rose", Kelly's songwriting explores inner visions and outer appearances through some exceptionally beautiful musical journeys. The album's high-water marks include the stripped down guitar/vocal of "I Wish You Love", the haunting chorus of "Unicorn Dream", the skewed internal monologue of "Alone Again" and the Janis Ian-esque "Behind Her Smile". The subtle colours and varied palette provided by guest musicians such as Courtney Pine and Byron Wallen display a complete understanding of the singer's very particular artistic sensibility.

PETER QUINN