By Jim Hynes, Making A Scene
Vocalist, arranger, and multi-lingual Lauren Henderson is back with her sixth musical alliance with pianist Sullivan Fortner – The Songbook Session. Fortner, considered one of today’s top pianists, has been visible lately on a few online performances with Cecile McLorin Salvant. Truth is, though, that he has worked longer, over a decade, with Henderson. In keeping with most of her work, on The Songbook Session, Henderson, who self-produced, uncovers the layers of her diverse background in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The duo is joined by bassist Eric Wheeler, long-time collaborator of Henderson’s and Allan Mednard, an expressive and inventive drummer and percussionist. Each of the reimagined arrangements of these classic gems – including “Day by Day”, “Sabor A Mi”, “People Will Say We’re in Love” and “Besame Mucho” – are due to the collaboration of Henderson and Fortner. Read the full review here.