Lurie, Jessica

Licorice and Smoke

Label: Zipa!Music Country: USA

"Jessica Lurie leads a core band comprised of Nels Cline, Todd Sickafoose, and Scott Amendola through the strongest, most musical compositions of her career. There's an undeniable Latin undercurrent, but it's constantly flavored with Middle Eastern or down south spicing. Pieces like "The Place That You Come From" spark the same bright colors as a French musical like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. One catches the Brazillica of Stan Getz but with a fluttery heartbeat and some ghostly tinkering by Amendola and Lurie's electronics. Astor Piazzolla strolls into an Italian sunset, tipping his hat to accordionist Dan Cantrell as he passes. Only at the end do you realize the crazy range you've covered. There's no discontinuity. The assorted pieces fall together for a very satisfying whole."