Joanne Brackeen is capable of engaging the listener in various ways. Her stride-driven arrangement of “If I Were a Bell” might be in 7/4 time, but it still swings like crazy. She turns The Beatles’ ballad “Michelle” into a meditation, and transforms Ellington’s “Prelude to a Kiss” into an impressionistic rhapsody. Her booting, boogie-woogie “Knickerbocker Blues” is positively righteous, and the title track is filled with slippery surprises. There’s no predicting where Brackeen will take you, but it’s always worth the trip.
Joanne Brackeen: Popsicle Illusion
JazzTimes may earn a small commission if you buy something using one of the retail links in our articles. JazzTimes does not accept money for any editorial recommendations. Read more about our policy here. Thanks for supporting JazzTimes.
