Maria Jacobs
Back at the Bop Stop
(IWARBLE MUSIC)
June 23, 2023
Reviewed by Tracy Adams
Maria Jacobs is one of those hyphenated wonders: singer-songwriter-instrumentalist-arranger-band leader. She brings all of these skills to her latest album, recorded live in her native Ohio.
Each skill has its moment to shine, and while some are more successful than others, each makes a positive contribution to the end product.
The opening “Up Jumped Spring” (Freddie Hubbard/Abbey Lincoln) gives Jacobs an immediate opportunity to shine as an instrumentalist on a bright and breezy flute solo. This is followed by “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To” (Cole Porter), with her scat chops on display. “Deed I Do” (Fred Rose/Walter Hirsch) shows off her band-leader capabilities as each ensemble member takes a well-deserved solo.
On “Stand By Me” (Jerry Lieber/Mike Stoller/Ben E. King), her arranging abilities support the lyrics in a way that brings you to a new understanding of the singer’s point of view.
More of this would be welcomed in her presentations.
Jacobs has both tender and powerful sides to her voice. With the powerful one, she sometimes pushes too hard and, as a friend of mine used to say, it becomes a voice that could clear out pipes. But when she is not pushing, it is an outstanding voice. Check out the well-swung “Never Will I Marry” (Frank Loesser) and the dreamy “Blue Moon” (Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart). The latter is a bonus, studio-recorded track, as is the closing “Pale Moon, Blue Sky” penned by Jacobs. It makes a lovely finale and brings together all her skills in one track. We often hear the advice, “leave them wanting more.” This last song accomplishes that.
