Jekaterina Sarigina’s debut recording Mayflower presents a set of vibrant original compositions for the voice alongside the elegant interpretation of British contemporary jazz classics.
Born and raised in Latvia, jazz vocalist Jekaterina Sarigina introduces a carefully balanced set in her debut album Mayflower in which she takes on the roles of composer, band leader and producer. Having studied with such prominent vocal jazz educators as Dominique Eade (USA) and Brigitte Beraha (UK), Jekaterina’s lyrical vocal approach blends organically with contemporary and abstract arrangements, leaving space for an effortless technique and vocal improvisations. Watch album presentation video here.
Self-released and recorded in USA, Latvia and China, and mastered in the UK, the album is a snapshot of a musical exploration during a strange ‘uprooting’ period that happened in the past two years: the mid-pandemic travels between London and Boston to graduate from the New England Conservatory and a further relocation to China for a job as a Teaching Artist in an international school.
The symbolic title Mayflower is inspired by the famous 1620 story of the pilgrim voyage from England to the New World. In one way, the album is a reflection of the international reality in which many young artists find themselves today. Featuring an eclectic band of musicians from Israel, South Korea and USA, it is a collection of various aesthetic and sonic components and possibilities, sometimes in juxtaposition with each other but more often supporting and mirroring one another.
Mayflower unfolds with a spin on British-Canadian jazz legend Kenny Wheeler’s composition Wintersweet which is a soft dreamy ballad, yet Jekaterina easily surpasses the melodic complexity and offers a fresh emotional palette to the song.
The second track If I Were also released as a single, is a dynamic blend of syncopated bass lines, changing time signatures and romantic lyrics, creating a mysterious yet flowing vocal delight. ‘If I Were’ is also included in JazzInLatvia 2022 compilation album by the Latvian Music Information Centre.
Wrong Lullaby offers a completely different concept: based on variations of a 12 tone row, this word-less waltz-like tune deconstructs rhythmically and melodically until it reaches a point of Shakespearean dialogues coming from all directions, creating a soundtrack to a strange yet playful dream.
Serenade is a ballad that explores vocal possibilities within the contemporary jazz idiom through well crafted melodies and vocal tradition of storytelling where lyrics shape the mood and the interactions within the arrangement.
Lighthouse, the longest track of the album, offers deep connection through the vast sonic space and long instrumental solos, similar to the best tradition of ECM classics. The tune was inspired by a Hungarian singer-instrumentalist Gabor Winand’s album Agent Spirituel who’s music is deeply rooted both in classical and folk music.
Al Dente is a short word-less piano and voice duo inspired by the Brazilian choro tradition and its more contemporary followers, such as Tatiana Parra and Sara Serpa.
Spring Salutation is a celebration of a season and all the colours and vibrancies it has to offer. It is based on a bass ostinato that is juxtaposing the natural flow of the phrasing and therefore creating an illusion of a constantly shifting patterns and new sound possibilities.
To celebrate the release, Jekaterina will perform at Jazz at Lincoln Centre Shanghai on 12th, 19th and 26th of May 2022. Summer tour dates to be announced in May 2022.
W: https://www.jekaterinasarigina.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/JekaterinaSarigina
IG: https://www.instagram.com/jekaterinasariginamusic
