Full Review

Emilie Samson, An Introvert’s Dream Review

Emilie Samson is a gifted jazz vocalist with modernity to her voice. She was born in Montreal, Québec. Samson is a French-Canadian jazz vocalist, composer, and educator. Her schooling includes completing a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance at McGill University before relocating to New York. She received a scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, where she studied voice with Theo Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, and Jo Lawry. Her debut, EP An Introvert’s Dream, is a stunning collection of original songs and arrangements she wrote after moving to the Big Apple. She is joined by a core ensemble of Robinson De Montmollin, piano; Sean Burke, bass; Phil McNeal, drums; with special guests Keegan Riley, flugelhorn (tracks 1 and 5); Alec Aldred, trumpet (track 3), Seth Weaver, trombone (track 3) and Rico Jones, tenor saxophone (track 3).

Positives: Samson takes her time with her arrangements; the essence of each tune reveals its beauty in the melody and lyrics, tied up with Samson’s supple voice, she connects effortlessly to the theme as she traverses each descant.

Bottom Line: There is an effervescence in Samson’s voice. Whether traversing “If You Never Come to Me,” a beautifully executed Latin downtempo-ballad with a caressing elegance that climaxes with a soli to personalize her rendition of the piece, Riley adds a shimmer to the tune on flugelhorn. “Nobody’s Heart (Belongs To Me)” is a Rogers and Hart tune taken at an up-tempo swing, supported aptly by Montmollin and McNeal, the tune cooks in all its merit. A standout track is “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by the Beach Boys. Samson reimagines this tune and truly makes a signature tune for herself. Delicate and introspective, her thoughtful approach is justifiably entrancing. There is a youthfulness to her voice that is entirely endearing. The innocence of her vocal quality can be heard in her voice as she smiles through each note. No matter the style, Samson truly puts forth her personality and is thoughtful in its execution, taking it beyond a standards singer, and transforming each song stylistically. Backed by an equally contemplative ensemble, it is a joyful listen throughout. That’s the short of it!