Diane Delin: Another Morning

Anyone thinking of the jazz violin as a novelty or limited, role-playing instrument would be well advised to pick up Diane Delin’s Another Morning (Blujazz productions BJ303: 46:34). Delin spins vibrant, varied leads from both electric and acoustic violin, capturing the vibrations, tones and colors of a vocal…and then some. She bops through the laid back, bass-popping “Struttin’ Stuff” and the highly caffeinated album-opening title track, but hits sharp, darkly romantic edges on the Latin rocker, “For the Moment.” Delin also knows how to wring emotion where it counts-most notably from ultra-high, bowed cries over an acoustic bass solo on the multi-textured “Jan’s Song” and on a touching violin and piano duet of “God Bless the Child,” in a totally unique read which is both warm and melancholy. Another unique arrangement, its own worth the price of admission, thanks to Delin’s coolly twisted, off-kilter bowing.

Originally Published March 1, 1998