By: Staff
Songbird's Prayer
The Montreal jazz scene has long been looked upon as one of the strongest and most creative in North America. From the annual Montreal Jazz Festival, to the city’s three University jazz programs that continually graduate world-class performers, to the downtown clubs where artists show their reverence for jazz tradition while moving the music forward in new and exciting directions, Montreal is a hotbed for jazz. Especially strong is the city’s jazz piano lineage. With artists such as Oliver Jones and Oscar Peterson setting the bar back in the day, current pianists such as Steve Amirault and John Roney have carried the torch forward into the current scene, keeping their predecessors high standards and pushing the music into the 21st century. One of the new names that can be added to Montreal’s list of highly-accomplished jazz pianists is Toronto transplant Marie-Fatima Rudolf. With a keen sense of melody, technique to spare and the highest level of musicianship, Rudolf makes her presence felt with her latest release, Songbird’s Prayer.
The tracks on Songbird’s Prayer are a mixture of original compositions as well as a few tunes from the standard repertoire. With a penchant for mixing traditional as well as modern ideas in her writing, Rudolf brings to mind the likes of Brad Mehldau with the tune “Outer Edge of Life.” With the melodic bass line that permeates the melody section of this tune, mixed with percussively punched chord phrases, the song leads nicely from the intro, through the melody and into the solo sections, which features one of the brightest moments for Rudolf as she weaves her lines in and around the changes. Other tracks, such as “Storyteller” have a folk-like quality to them. With a simple melody and chord structure, the trio digs deep into their emotions as they craftily interpret the melody and changes in a way that is both engaging and entertaining. No matter what style Rudolf and company are playing in, or where the music takes them, this trio is on top of its game at all times, making the record a joy to listen to and be a part of as a listener.
Overall, Songbird’s Prayer is a strong statement for the Montreal pianist. With such a heavy tradition of Montreal jazz pianists behind her, Rudolf steps up and stakes her claim as a name to watch for in coming years. Leaving the audience wanting more, this record is the perfect introduction to Rudolf’s musical world, and a welcomed addition to the modern jazz piano library.
