This Valentine’s Day, WEMU will premiere the romantic music of singer-guitarist Stacey Kent and the new CD, The Changing Lights released on Warner Brothers/Parlophone Reacords. Each of her previous recordings have been a marvel of delicacy, swing, precision, subtle passion and just-barely disguised emotional frailty. It is hard to believe that she and her band could top Breakfast On The Morning Tram or Dreamer In Concert but The Changing Lights further explores Ms. Kent’s gifts as a story-teller through song and as a gentle and fleet Brazilian finger-style guitarist.
She embellishes lyrics with just a delicate touch of vibrato to get the heart of the emotion without histrionics. Like a Lover , The Face I Love and even the over-recorded One Note Samba are transformed in to new experiences thanks to brilliant use of alternate syncopation. Ms. Kent also has the rare gift of being able to interpret the modern life and love quandary songs penned by lyricist Kazuo Ishiguro. Equally rare in much of music today is Ms. Kent’s collaboration with her husband, saxophonist-arranger Jim Tomlinson who complements Ishiguro’s lyrics with tender melodies.
The Changing Lights is a delicate balance of repertoire, arrangements and emotion from playful joy to wistful longing. It’s a perfect Valentine’s Day treat on 89.1 Jazz with Linda Yohn.
