EMMA HEDRICK, Newcomer

It’s amazing that throughout jazz and rock history, no emerging artist has been bold and clever enough to title their debut album Newcomer – until Emma Hedrick, who rather than draw on her silky and elegant, deeply emotional multi-octave voice and wondrous scatting skills to present a familiar set of standards chooses to double-grace us with her witty, insightful original songwriting talents as well.

Starting with her reflective, philosophically sound opener “The Idea of Love” one of the first songs she ever penned, the multi-faceted singer, under the guidance of New York Voices singer/pianist Peter Eldridge, more than lives up to the many accolades she’s received – including seven Downbeat Student Music Awards for Jazz Voice and two National YoungArts Awards. Showcasing an array of moods and grooves, she skillfully moves and soothes us with cool, sensual gems like the horn-tinged “Dreamscapes” and “In the Garden” and snaps our senses to rapt attention with her spirited scatting and quick, witty phrasing on “In the Warmth."

Considering her great emphasis on education (Bachelor’s from Frost School of Music, Master’s from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Holland), it’s wholly appropriate that four of the most compelling songs on the collection were written as part of her Master’s research. The most poignant of these is the classically influenced, string enhanced title track, which is not about her status as a new artist but an expression of loneliness. longing and feeling out of place in an alien environment. The most curiously titled of this batch is “Spring Haiku Collection,” a tender and sparse, flute-touched offering of musical poetry with lyrics presented in haiku form.

Beyond her supple vocal approach, one of the aspects of her artistry that immediately sets her apart from other young jazz artists is the freedom she exercises to create songs from eclectic and unexpected inspirations – ranging from the color yellow (the aforementioned “In The Warmth”) to John Mayer (the acoustic pop flavored “Come on Home” and Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes (whose short poem “Young Singer” sparked Emma’s imagination with “Tone Poem In Greenwich Village.”

Overall, Emma Hedrick’s debut Newcomer is a thoughtful, heartfelt and moving album that marks the launch of a promising jazz career.