Samantha Siva: Masquerade

Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer Samantha Siva brings her wide-ranging talent to bear on her third album, Masquerade (Genie), a richly varied mix of musical styles. Not only is Siva an immensely talented artist, she is also the head of her own label, Genie Entertainment, and, as such, oversaw all of the business aspects relating to Masquerade.

Siva exhibits her jazz chops on the lively “Six O’Clock,” while the title track possesses a languid feel reminiscent of Sade’s sound. The vibrant, Spanish-flavored “Poquita di Paraguana” features delicate acoustic guitar accents from Chieli Minucci, and David Benoit contributes keyboards to “Clouds,” a song that floats as ethereally as the journey it describes. Saxophonist David Mann sets a moody tone on the sultry ballad “Sugar,” a pretty but repetitive track that feels a bit too long; Siva could have cut a minute or more from the song and still have made her seductive point. Overall, though, Masquerade is an impressive effort by an artist of exceptional ability.

Originally Published January 1, 2003