Mary J. Blige
The London Sessions
Capitol
Stormy soul-hop singer Mary J. Blige gives England a shot, writing and collaborating with musical Londoners, and the results are refreshing.
Crooner Sam Smith and producers Guy and Howard Lawrence of the electro-dance outfit Disclosure make the most of their time with Blige. In "Right Now," which credits all four as writers, and in the spacious "Follow," the Lawrences remake their quirky vision into something worthy of Blige. She sounds ever so slightly tamped down, selling something different from her brand.
On "Therapy," Smith provides Blige with something like the halting swing of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab." Another Londoner,
Emeli Sande, is the co-writer of "Whole Damn Year," a song in which Blige takes on true vulnerability. That daring difference is something Blige should carry home like luggage.
Hot tracks: "Therapy," "Whole Damn Year," "Right Now."
-- A.D. AMOROSI,
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Renee Fleming
Christmas in New York
Decca
This classy Christmas recording by opera star Renee Fleming is intimate and infused with an engaging jazzy sensibility.
Fans know Fleming, a soprano, can sing anything she sets her voice to, and the warmth of this set will likely please them. But the beauty of her singing, its heartfelt emotional context and savvy collaborations, make this set appealing beyond her fan base.
A superb duet with Rufus Wainwright on "In the Bleak Midwinter" is breathtaking. Also strong is a teaming with pianist Brad Mehldau on Sandy Denny's bittersweet "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" and a striking take on Paul Simon's "Love and Hard Times."
Other guests include Wynton Marsalis on a softly swinging "Winter Wonderland," singer Gregory Porter on a soulful new tune "Central Park Serenade" and a sexy "Snowbound" with singer Kurt Elling and pianist Renee Rosnes.
Hot tracks: "In the Bleak Midwinter," "Who Knows Where the Time Goes," "Central Park Serenade."
-- ELLIS WIDNER
The Boys of St. Paul's Choir School
Christmas in Harvard Square
Decca
Traditional hymns, medieval chants and classic texts with a modern setting blend seamlessly for this album that, while not particularly exciting, is a welcome respite for those weary of blaring pop songs and hymns given the "how many melismas can I cram in" star treatment.
There's nothing fancy or showy about the boys choir. They and their adult helpers sing in traditional style with clear, straight tones that are pure and soothing.
While some of the hymns are very familiar, they have a slightly new twist thanks to new descants and arrangements by the choir's conductor, John Robinson.
Some of the familiar carols like "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "Angels We Have Heard on High" are rather limp. But the choir is very well suited to the quieter pieces -- simple chants and a hauntingly beautiful "In the Bleak Midwinter."
Hot tracks:"In the Bleak Midwinter," "Magnum Mysterium," "Jesus Christ, the Apple Tree."
-- JENNIFER NIXON
Trio Mediaeval
Aquilonis
ECM New Series
Trio Mediaeval has a heavenly, ethereal vocal sound of startling beauty and purity. The Scandinavian women approach Christmas with a set of sacred music titled with the Latin word for the north wind.
Its content ranges from an Icelandic chant from the Middle Ages to contemporary pieces by British and American writers. The album includes 12th-century sacred works from Italy, 15th-century English carols and traditional folk melodies. There is a mix of a cappella selections and some with instrumentation such as Norwegian hardanger fiddle, melody chimes and organ.
Especially memorable is the exquisite and haunting Norwegian folk song "Ingen vinner frem til den evige ro (Eternal Rest Is the Reward)," with group member Anna Maria Friman on hardanger fiddle. Chant pieces associated with St. Thorlak, patron saint of Iceland, are fascinating, particularly "Vespers Reponsory" and "Special Antiphon."
Hot tracks: "Ingen vinner frem til den evige ro (Eternal Rest Is the Reward)," Andrew Smith's "Ave regina caelorum," William Brooks' "Vale, dulcis amice (Farewell, Sweet Friend)."
-- ELLIS WIDNER
Azealia Banks
Broke With Expensive Taste
Prospect Park
Harlem-raised rapper Azealia Banks first announced Broke With Expensive Taste in 2012, around the time her foulmouthed, fast-paced track "212," included here, made her the brightest young talent in hip-hop. Since then, drawn-out record-label battles and endless Twitter wars ensued, and Broke went missing for so long that another less talented female rapper with a similar sounding name -- Iggy Azalea -- stole Banks' thunder.
However, Broke is here and it is a work of such impressive range and confidence that you have to wonder what the holdup was all about. Banks sings as well as raps and navigates a variety of styles with ease, spitting rhymes with dazzling speed and rhythmic complexity, or whispering enticingly on "Miss Camaraderie" as she moves from Latin to electronic to house-music grooves, and even dallying in, of all things, surf-rock on "Nude Beach A-Go-Go."
The long delay allowed her time to make the album her way and also diminished expectations. So the surprise is all the more pleasant that Broke turns out possibly to be the hip-hop album of the year.
Hot tracks: "Miss Camaraderie," "Nude Beach A-Go-Go."
-- DAN DeLUCA,
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Style on 12/09/2014