Record Reviews

HANKA GREGUSOVA ~ UNIVERSAL ANCESTRY CULTURE BRIDGE 012022 (Barcode: 195269173159) ~ SLOVAKIA ~ Jazz-Pop Fusion Recorded: 2021 Released: 2022 This is the fourth album by Slovak Jazz vocalist Hanka GregusovaFind albums by this artist, and her first album recorded and released in the US, after she moved there and now appears under the Hanka GFind albums by this artist moniker. The album presents eleven tracks, eight of which are Jazz and Pop standards and three Slovak Folk songs, with English lyrics added by Gregusova. She is accompanied by a long list of American musicians and two Slovak female flute players on selected tracks. The move to the US, which is something many East European musicians often dream about, definitely suits Gregusova more than most others, as she always displayed a great love of American music roots, which is plainly evident on this album. The resulting music is obviously less Jazz oriented and offers a blend of Pop, Soul, Blues and some Jazz accents, all amalgamated into a slick, highly effective and excellently performed musical offering, which sounds overall as American as one might hope for. Gregusova in her new environment is still a superb vocalist, with sensitivities and idiosyncrasies which can only be envied by her peers. She is convincing and heartfelt, and listening to her is always a great pleasure. Although I miss her a bit in her Jazz capacity, I welcome her new path, which does hopefully not rule out returning to her Jazz roots in the future. Overall, this is a new Hanka Gregusova or Hanka G, but still a vocalist strong as ever, fascinating and enthralling, which hopefully will achieve everything she wishes for in the land of unlimited possibilities. I certainly wish her to fulfill all her dreams!

Updated: 12/10/2022Posted: 12/10/2022

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