While the Great American Songbook should always be cherished as some of the finest music ever written, few things are more frustrating to the dedicated jazz listener than another jazz vocalist paying tribute to Ella, Billie, Sarah or any of the other peerless singers of yesteryear. Thankfully, there are plenty of musicians out there doing their own thing, though not always receiving the credit they deserve. Cassandra Wilson and Dee Dee Bridgewater are examples of established artists who respect tradition but are not limited by it. Esperanza Spalding, Sachal Vasandani and Sara Serpa, as well as local talents such as Lena Seikaly and Akua Allrich are younger singers trying to forge their own unique path. After all, why should vocalists be exempt from the continuous evolution and innovation that is the driving force behind jazz?
Gretchen Parlato, a rising artist who most certainly belongs on this list of seekers, offered her perspective during a recent interview with DCist.
“When you have have composers like Ellington, Porter, Rodgers and Hart, you have perfectly written pieces of music,” she said. “That was the challenge for me, was getting over the mentality that I have nothing to offer. I don’t have to compare my songs to an Ellington composition.”
The District has played an important role in Parlato’s career, as she first gained notice by winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition in 2004. She will return to our fair city this weekend for Friday and Saturday night sets at the historic Bohemian Caverns. The shows will draw heavily from The Lost and Found, Parlato’s third and latest album that was released just last week. Accompanying her will be longtime collaborator Taylor Eigsti on piano, bassist Alan Hampton and drummer Mark Guiliana.
Produced by Robert Glasper, who is at the heart of an impressive circle of musicians creating inspired sounds, The Lost and Found embraces a diverse set of influences, ranging from classic jazz to soul. Several Parlato originals stand alongside standards like “Blue in Green” and Simply Red’s pop classic, “Holding Back the Years.” The constant throughout is Parlato’s understated voice, which is technically nimble, but always easygoing and inviting.
“The main theme is a reflection of the title,” Parlato said of the recording. “Most of us experience all kinds of highs and lows and we all have to realize that this is normal. It’s all about creating light and dark moods with sound and space.”
This all-encompassing view of life and music is a result of Parlato’s upbringing, having been raised in a creative and artistic family. During our conversation, she would often speak about her music, but then go on to connect that same thought with broader views on art and the bigger picture. Seeing art as vital to the human condition, Parlato uses music as a way to draw deeper connections with her own day-to-day existence and with her audience.
“They don’t necessarily have to like it,” she said of her listeners. “My desire with this music and with art in general is to allow someone to feel something from our expression.”
Gretchen Parlato & Co. will appear at Bohemian Caverns on Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16, playing 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door.
