Although the name of the album suggests Zana Messia's spiritual ties with her musical heritage of the Balkans where she grew up, "Balkan Soul" she is using her songwriting skills and sensibility to integrate the folk music of her homeland into an original mixture that fuses together overtones of jazz, pop, blues, Latin, yet without losing the cohesive thread that gives the album its own color.
This music-without-borders fiesta made of ten short stories about life's aches, regrets and mistakes, passion and joy is impregnated by a genuine "saudade" specific to the Balkan traditional music without any overdo or exageration.
There is a pleasant harmony between lyrics and music, between the singer's voice and the creative collective of thirteen musicians, that bring all their energy and prowess to
the arrangements. They play like a Balkan brass band, acoustic jazz combo and mariachi ensemble with fine transitions and delicate solos, everything crafted with a great taste matching singer's vocal nuances.
She moves smoothly from dramatic to joyful with a sort of bluesiness that comes from the heart and doesn't sound pretentious, a quality transferred organically to all the songs she performs.
The lyrics of the opening track reveal her source of inspiration: " Every ache, every mistake/How can it be
wrong?/Things I regret,/I've done or not / Each has become a song" - and this is precisely why this album is delightful: the sublimation of emotions into catchy melodies you'll find yourself humming. Worthy to mention the Romani/Gipsy music accents on "This Is How I Get" enriched by the glissando of the violin, the sunny Latin beat on "Palm Tree Leaves", or the jazzy "I've Seen Him Before" with nice
sax and guitar solos.
Besides the eight originals, the album features a Balkan flavored rendition of the "Round Midnight" and the anthemic "Djelem Djelem" Zana Messia sings with unbridled passion in Romani language.
An etertaining and moving album in the same time, "Balkan Soul" will please those who are looking to hear a voice and a music beyond cliches and deja vu.
Tracks:
1. My Invention Of You
2. This Is How I Get
3. Radio
4. Red Shoes
5. Never Loved This Way
6. Palm Tree Leaves
7. I've Seen Him Before
8. Round Midnight
9. Djelem djelem
10. If You're Wondering
Musicians:
Zana Messia: Vocals
James Brandon Lewis: Tenor
Almer Imamovic: Acoustic Guitar
Jessica Pierce: Flute
David Marcus: Guitar
Theo Saunders: Piano
Ben Shepherd: Upright Bass
Nick Arriondo: Accordion
Dan Weinstein: Tuba, Trombone, Viola, Violin, Trumpet
Harvey Masson: Drums, Percussion, Marimba, Vibes
Danny Frankel: Drums, Percussion
Greg Lower: Percussion
Laura Geier: Violin
Doug Webb: Clarinet
Zana Messia @ JWQ
Zana Messia Official Website