Miki Purnell - Midnight Bloom (Feat. Tamir Hendelman & Bob Sheppard) (2019)

A few years ago, Miki Purnell recorded an impressive debut album, Swingin’ To The Sea. The recent Midnight Bloom is even better, teaming the highly appealing jazz singer with pianist-arranger Tamir Hendelman, bassist Alex Frank, drummer Dean Koba and, on some selections, guitarist Pat Kelley, percussionist Tommy Aros, and Bob Sheppard on tenor, flute and clarinet.
The 14 songs of Midnight Bloom have the theme of the wonders of nature at night. Fortunately they are not all sleepy ballads or lullabies and cover a variety of moods and plots. “Moonlight Saving Time” is a superior obscurity and a joyful swinger from the early 1930s that was recorded by Blossom Dearie in the 1950s. The Gershwins’ “Embraceable You” has been performed a countless number of times through the years but this version is a bit different. Miki has long loved Lester Young’s solo from a 1949 Jazz At The Philharmonic concert so she wrote vocalese lyrics to his improvisation. The dialogue between her voice and Bob Sheppard’s tenor works quite well. “No Moon At All” is given a seductive treatment with a samba feel, some fine scat-singing, and subtle improvising by the singer during its final chorus.
“Happy Madness” is a fine showcase for Miki’s lovely voice. Here, as throughout the program, she is perfectly in-tune, shows enthusiasm in her singing (like Ella did), and her phrasing causes each song to swing, no matter the tempo. Her treatments of ballads (which include “Quiet Now,” “Solitary Moon,” “You Are There” and “Stars”) are quietly emotional as she digs into the lyrics and brings out the beauty of the words. Whether it is the playfulness of “Teach Me Tonight,” trying to be philosophical about being hurt in “The Night We Call It A Day,” or the happiness of “Love Dance,” Ms. Purnell sounds very sincere and musical, giving a twist to each song that makes them sound fresh and relevant.
“Midnight Madness Called Jazz” is her tribute to Thelonious Monk and jazz in general. The piece begins with Monk’s “’Round Midnight” (using Jon Hendricks’ words) and then, with the assistance of Hendelman, the piece is given a new melody and lyrics that build upon the haunting mood. “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams,” a song well worth reviving, is inspired by the melody line that Coleman Hawkins used on his classic recording from 1945. The memorable outing closes with the singer’s “Midnight Bloom,” a poetic song that captures the singer in her flower garden at night, alone with her thoughts, enjoying the night and the moon.
Acquiring Midnight Bloom is the perfect way to discover the musical talents of Miki Purnell. ~Scott Yanow