Eden Atwood - Turn Me Loose (2009)

Bass – Chris Colangelo
Drums – Joe LaBarbera
Piano – David Morgenroth
Vocals – Eden Atwood

It has been a while since I heard Eden Atwood’s last release. Reportedly, this CD is her first new recording in five years. It shows that she has matured significantly from her Concord years. Atwood’s singing now has more depth, the range of her expression has widened, and her technique has improved. Listening to this passionate album, one can tell that she spent a lot of time preparing for it and did not hold back. At age 40, she is entering the most productive phase of her career, and her confidence is reflected in the selections and interpretations of songs contained here. With this CD, Atwood sheds the image of “a good-looking singer with a beautiful voice,” created during her Concord years, and reveals herself as a real jazz singer. Her range of expression has widened significantly, and the simple accompaniment by a piano trio is perfect here, allowing Atwood more freedom. The arrangements by David Morgenroth, the pianist and musical director for this album, are also superb. At the hands of Atwood and Morgenroth, even familiar standards are transformed into something entirely different, fresh and exciting. The selection of “Don’t Fence Me In” is particularly impressive. Jazz singers seldom sing this number, made into a huge hit by Bing Crosby, and Atwood truly makes it her own. The bluesy “Miss Celie’s Blues,” and “True North” takes her to a new musical territory, but perhaps this is a manifestation of her Southern blood, as she was born in Memphis, Tennessee. Atwood’s deep and heartfelt interpretations of “Ill Wind” and “True North” and the very slow rendition of Ellington’s “Don’t Get Around Much Any More” are just a few of many surprising, and very entertaining, twists in this album.