A star is born

Jazzmeia Horn – A Social Call (Prestige, 2017)

It is bold by a debutant like Jazzmeia Horn to start her album A Social Call with the song ”Tight”, since it is both written and recorded by Betty Carter, one of the most innovative and personal jazz singers ever. Horn almost pulls the inevitable comparison off, at least when she dialogues with saxophonist Stacy Dillard

It sure sounds like she has the potential to be a singer with the importance of a Betty Carter, but she still has a journey towards finding her own personality the way Betty Carter did.

Horn’s own way towards her first album goes via winning the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Competition in 2015.

On her way to greatness

On A Social Call she is backed by a very good band including pianist Victor Gould, bassist Ben Williams, drummer Jerome Jennings, saxophonist Stacy Dillard, trumpeter Josh Evans, and trombonist Frank Lacy. They work their way through a solid repertoire of jazz standards mixed with splashes of 1970s Philly soul, a disco hit, and a spiritual.

For me the stand out track is Jimmy Rowles’ wonderful ballad ”The Peacocks” with sad haunting lyrics by Norma Winston where Horn projects the mood of the song with her voice. It also has an equally haunting trumpet solo by Josh Evans.

One of the most promising things on A Social Call is Horn’s own ”Eye See You” with it’s eerie police sirens introduction and social commentary lyrics. She is already a good singer and artist, and has the potential to become a really great one like Betty Carter.