KJ Denhert
Dal Vivo a Umbria Jazz
Motema Music, 2008

KJ Denhert's recent live release, Dal Vivo a Umbrio Jazz, tries to and succeeds in creating a cool modern jazz club mood. Sophisticated and smooth, but not at all smarmy, this live recording comes with all the modern jazz accouterments: a slow piano, distorted guitars, strong bass guitar, and a trumpet. Yes, there is a lot of trumpet.

Denhert's strength is her technical skill - extended instrumentals within and at the end of each track are the most interesting parts of the album. The arrangements stay true to jazz convention, giving the album a sense of mathematical complexity that's refreshing and easy to listen to.

She's a talented singer - her voice sounds like a mellower Melissa Etheridge, or a smoother Elton John. The instrumentals, though, do provide some relief from the song's lyrics, which, at times, are tiring and cringe-worthy if you're not ready for some of her pronouncements ("I wish I could fly like a bird on the wing," "Blown by the four winds to the seven seas").

Overall, great album. It makes me think of wine-tasting tours or cocktail parties, light and refreshing. It's either for that set or for jazz aficionados.