Melbreeze - Amethyst (feat. Scott Kinsey, Jimmy Haslip, Gary Novak & Arto Tuncboyaciyan) (2016)

Melbreeze is a jazz vocalist who was born in Turkey and has her own distinct approach to music. On her new album, Amethyst, she takes familiar songs and gives them a new sound, a new flavor. The first thing I noticed, however, was the album’s striking cover, with that sexy purple wig. Interestingly, the cover is basically the same as an earlier release, Turquoise, the only difference being the color of the wig and title. Amethyst follows last year’s Animazonia, on which she gave her spin to Brazilian songs like “One Note Samba” and “How Insensitive.” On this one she is joined by Scott Kinsey on keys (Kinsey is also responsible for the arrangements), Gary Novak on drums, Jimmy Haslip on bass and backing vocals (Haslip also produced the album), Arto Tuncboyaciyan on percussion and backing vocals, James Zota Baker on guitar, Oz Noy on guitar, Jeff Richman on guitar, Doug Livingston on pedal steel guitar, Larry Koonse on guitar, Brad Dutz on percussion, Judd Miller on electric valve instrument, Bob Reynolds on saxophone and clarinet, and Naina Kundu on backing vocals.