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Quotes & Reviews

Judi Silvano and Bruce Arnold are travelling together in space as one voice!
Kenny Werner – pianist, composer, author

Judi Silvano & Bruce Arnold have found a home for their musical conversations in a duo setting that feels both natural and adventurous. The element of technology that adorns their inventions succeeds, to my ear, because it simply offers other ways of hearing each other’s sense of the whole picture as it unfolds. Their connection remains rooted in the forever powerful tools of rhythm, counterpoint and harmonic agreement and tension. As well the two are clearly having a good deal of fun with where some of the processing takes them, and it’s a pleasure to participate, as a listener, in their playfulness.
Gerry Hemingway – percussionist/composer/visual artist & educator

Sonic Twist’s UNITY – I’ve been a fan of this duo for a LONG time now… with Judi Silvano’s vocals and Bruce Arnold’s guitar you won’t find any more adventurous ambient electronic music than this. A true sense of freedom is conveyed as you listen… and your heart will come away from these songs jam-packed with the Joy Of Living! I give Sonic Twist a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.99.
Dick Metcalf – Editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews

Sonic Twist® is a duo of Judi Silvano on vocals and Bruce Arnold on guitar; both of them contributing various electronics to this 45-minute album. They enjoy a strong rapport throughout and one of the things that makes them compatible is Arnold’s use of space, as he favors an airy, floating sound along the lines of Pat Metheny and the late Jim Hall. Silvano has been inspired by Sheila Jordan, Betty Carter and Jeanne Lee but none of these selections rely on traditional song structures or a head/solos/head format. Their improvisations are quite free form, but never in a combative way. Their expression values subtlety and understatement. Unity doesn’t confront; it floats and reflects. 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of Silvano’s first recording as a leader, Dancing Voices, and Arnold is a consistently intuitive collaborator for the veteran singer’s adventurous talents.
Alex Henderson 12 MARCH 2021 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD

Judi Silvano is surely one of the most multi-dimensional improvising vocalists of this era. The variety and output of her musical catalogue was already impressive (to put it mildly), but in the last several years she and musical partner guitarist Bruce Arnold have been opening up new portals for sonic exploration. From the very first notes of the opening track on their third CD, “Unity” I was eager to hear the rest of the album. Judi and Bruce draw from a seemingly endless well of ideas, yet there’s never a superfluous note, and the music they make together is surprising, inventive, and utterly engaging.
Andrea Wolper – vocalist, composer, educator

I first met Judi 21 years ago, as a student at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Judi was my ensemble director and was one of the first teachers to introduce me to completely improvised music. She shared the importance of freedom, intent, listening, interaction, developing a personal language, and creating an emotional connection with both the musicians and audience. On this album, we hear those sentiments fully expressed and realized in this intimate duo. UNITY is a beautiful, fearless, entirely improvised conversation between two unique performers that draws the audience in with every listening.
Kris Davis – pianist and composer

This is the third offering by the duo SONIC TWIST with Judi Silvano on voice and Bruce Arnold on guitar. Although both of these musicians come from mostly jazz backgrounds, their combined efforts come from a more experimental, open-ended area. All of the pieces here (17) are relatively short, under 3 & 1/2 minutes and they create different moods… unique, adventurous and unclassifiable.
Bruce Lee Gallanter – Downtown Music Gallery DMG

Judi Silvano and Bruce Arnold engage joyously with an open, exploratory spirit. Every syllable, every note is an opportunity to play, unpack and transform. Unity is an album with 17 miniatures where Judi and Bruce bring the listener right into their “playground.” What a thrill to hear an interaction so free and filled with the spark of discovery and sensory delight.
Ayelet Gottlieb – vocalist, educator

“Judi and Bruce have combined their creative energies to bring us a wonderful, fresh, new, and compelling album that rewards the listener with new subtleties on subsequent audits. It’s a peaceful, thoughtful, bright, kaleidoscopic, warm, and elevated state-of-the-art duo project that I hope will have an extended run.”
James Emery – guitarist, composer, mystical vibration Work healer

The tonal empathy between Arnold and Silvano can be mesmerizing, so seamlessly do the two voices blend to create sinuously compelling soundscapes.
Stephen Gauci – saxophonist, improviser

After an initial listen, Unity has already become my favorite album … The louder I push up the volume, the more I’m enjoying this musical therapy session.
Laurence Donohue-Greene – Managing Editor (The New York City Jazz Record)

When I listen to Judi Silvano & Bruce Arnold on their new recording ”Unity”, I see vast arrays of colors that fly by my eyes. Colors of musical expression, love and dedication. To me, that’s what their sound is all about. A fresh experience. Thank you.
George Garzone – saxophone, improviser, educator

These freely improvised duets for voice and guitar create an uplifting kind of energy. They will appeal to fans of “free jazz,” and more generally, they will delight anyone who likes to put on “ambient music” to fill up one’s living space with positive vibes.
Lewis Porter – pianist, educator, author

Love the Sonic Twist® “Unity” album. I smiled all the way through – really great short-form pieces that each create a mood and then go on to the next. These short explorations are clever, emotional, sonically interesting, and joyous when taken as a whole. The playing and singing is “playful,” yet exhibit a seriously high level command of the instruments.
Dave Mash – musician, educator, futurist

On “Unity,” vocalist Judi Silvano masterfully improvises a series of short-form songs with guitarist Bruce Arnold that mirror the compositional qualities of still life paintings. Imagine a gallery wall with a display of arresting 12×15” paintings that intermingle expressionistic realism with neon-electric abstract angles. The Duo unifies to approach their joint canvas, as they dot, dart, slant and swirl their colors together. Judi’s warm and rich human timbre is frequently collaged with electronic pitch alterations that are produced with soulful vibrancy. Listen to how Silvano and Arnold carve time-space with a full palette of sound-waves and you’ll hear-see a joyous celebration of life.”
Katie Bull – Vocalist, Composer, Writer, Founder/Whole Body Voice

Quotes & Reviews

“This is the second disc from Judi Silvano and Bruce Arnold. To call Ms. Silvano just a jazz singer would be misleading since, as this disc shows, there is quite a bit more going on here than one might imagine. We can still hear her jazz background but she is still stepping into another world, rather mysterious sounding. Her voice on “Ingenue” is lovely, warm, dreamy sounds without words. Mr. Arnold also plays solemn, spacy echoplex guitar chords underneath. Ms. Silvano selectively uses an ample amount of echo effects to expand the sound of her voice.

The effects that both musicians use are similar in the way they pulsate and work well together. The effects that Mr. Arnold uses add a hypnotic groove at times upon which Mr. Silvano lets her voice glide, rhythmically, tastefully.

There is some magic spice going on here, a rather soothing, dream-like vibe that feels better that some of the more aggravating nonsense we all have to deal with at times. Is this music for a fairy tale or a quaint movie for our minds when we are mellowing out?

I like when the voice lays out for a bit while Mr. Arnold creates enchanting scenes from different short stories or chapters in a novel. This gives Ms. Silvano a chance to add her own part of the story, her creating different characters. Since there are no lyrics to think about, it is only the sound of her voice to evoke different feelings.

Overall, I find this disc to be rather charming and not too far out, but enough to take us all on a magic carpet ride upwards and onwards. This duo will be playing here at DMG early next year, so keep you eyes & ears peeled.”
– Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG

“From her first recordings in 1989, Judi Silvano has always been an adventurous improviser and yet Cloudwalking is quite a bit different.  Ms. Silvano improvises a dozen free form yet melodic duets with guitarist Bruce Arnold while both musicians utilize electronics and effects tastefully and spontaneously. Nothing was added later on during mixing.

The music is quite impressionistic with sound explorations and subtle surprises. The singer displays a wide range of notes and emotions while also making creative use of space and having an unhurried delivery. Bruce Arnold is right there with her, sometimes leading the way while at other times following her musical ideas with his own musical adventures.

One should not come to Cloudwalking expecting swinging jazz but instead should be open to mood music that conveys an optimistic feeling.
— Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene, February 2019

“What a beautiful collaboration of voice, guitar and electronics.  Thank you Judi and Bruce for the lovely journey!”
-Jay Clayton,  Singer, Composer, Educator

Jazz singer Judi Silvano is the wife of tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano and she has appeared on some of his Blue Note albums, including Viva Caruso (2002), Celebrating Sinatra (1996) and Universal Language (1992), with a rather operatic vocalese style.

Silvano began recording under her own name on Blue Note with Vocalese (1996) and then with her own JSL Label which has released several albums including Songs I Wrote or Wish I Wrote (2000), Sound Garden: Spirit Music (2004) and Sound Garden: Celestial Voices (2005). Somewhere along the way Silvano switched to a straight vocal style without either vocalese or perhaps only a dab of scat..

Women’s Work: Live at Sweet Rhythm is based on a concept to present songs written by women and presented by an all femme group. This album has been carefully planned, and represents a concept of femininity in jazz writing and performing, and is well-realized in both planning and execution. The songs are composed by writers including Mary Lou Williams, Abbey Lincoln, Sheila Jordan and Carla Bley, plus two Silvano originals and one from pianist Janice Friedman.

Of the players, and they are all good, it’s Friedman who provides the cement that really holds this group together with her solos, comping and altogether solid playing. Allison Miller, who plays in many different genres, is a creative drummer.

Recorded live at Sweet Rhythm (formerly known as Sweet Basil), the opening tune, Silvano’s “Bougainvillea” has appeared elsewhere in her discography. Williams’ “Pretty Eyed Baby” is reminiscent of a tune that Nat King Cole might have recorded with his trio and is a fine jump composition. Blossom Dearie’s “Inside A Silent Tear” was heavily recorded during the 1970s, and Meredith D’Ambrosio’s “Why Do I Still Dream of You” is a touching ballad, and let’s face it—when have you ever heard any jazz vocalist cover D’Ambrosio’s work?

Likewise, Silvano covers Lincoln’s “Not to Worry,” Jordan’s autobiographical “Ballad for Miles” and Bley’s humorous “Can’t Get My Motor to Start.” She concludes with Bessie Smith’s “Backwater Blues,” a song that defined Dinah Washington’s 1950s output. Did Silvano take too much of a chance here? Well, it doesn’t beat out either Smith or Washington’s version but it elongates the song into a pleasing six minutes of pleasure.

Women’s Work: Live at Sweet Rhythm is the best of Silvano’s post-millennium albums. It presents a hardworking quartet making fine music so that whether in tribute or not, these eleven tracks present a well-developed and fun approach to a conceptual overlay.

– Michael P. Gladstone, AllAboutJazz

Quotes & Reviews

Lessons Learned is an apt title for the 14th album by Judi Silvano, a vocalist and composer who draws from a wide range of experience. Her Zephyr Band — named after an early-2000s album she made with pianist Mal Waldron — has Kenny Wessel and Bruce Arnold on guitars; Adam Kolker on bass clarinet, soprano and tenor saxophone; Ratzo B. Harris on bass; and Bob Meyer and Todd Isler on drums. The album, recently released on Unit Records, consists entirely of Silvano’s compositions, some of them sharp and spiky (“Dark Things”) and others full of wonder (“Round and Round”). One subtle high point is a ballad titled “Hand and Heart,” which would seem to be a nod to her spouse, saxophonist Joe Lovano, who produced the album. “When you go into the wide world,” Silvano sings, “I feel you pulling me too. / You build fires all around you / I am standing there beside you / Holding the glow.” (Silvano and the Zephyr Band will perform an album-release celebration at her regular haunt, Cornelia Street Café, this coming Sunday.)
– Nate Chinen, WBGO.org

You know reviewing this album has taken me weeks to do because it has moved my thoughts and memories in countless directions. Judi Silvano’s words awaken so much of a life lived. I felt the need to listen to her very thought provoking lyrics extremely carefully. The album has become somewhat of an intense catharsis on a personal level whilst listening intently. All I can say is I like the album and it has now become a permanent fixture on my iPhones playlist.
– Eric Alan, AllJazzRadio, Capetown South Africa

Judi Silvano’s “Lessons Learned” sees the glass as half-full on contemplative offerings such as “Hand and Heart”, “You Will Know”, “Round and Round” and “Castle Song”. “Shuffle and Sway” has the feeling of an African-American spiritual, recalling some of Abbey Lincoln’s collaborations with Max Roach. The defiant, soulful tune is about letting go of negative things that aren’t working. Many jazz vocalists shy away from composing original material, but Silvano is not one of them. She is as skillful a writer as she is a singer and Lessons Learned, like My Dance four years ago, is a fine product of both.
– Alex Henderson, NYC Jazz Record, November 2018

Silvano has been at the forefront of innovative jazz singing and as a gifted songwriter, Silvano has written words and music for all 10 songs heard here. These songs draw upon aspects of the composer’s own life and can be understood and appreciated by the listener who is thus far from being an outsider. Silvano’s sound is warm and mature, bringing to these songs depth and hints of melancholy that are counterbalanced by hope. Some of the lyrics are gently musing, some wryly witty; all show understanding of different aspects of the human condition. Without question, this singer-songwriter has succeeded in her ambitions for this excellent set of contemporary music.
– Bruce Crowther, Jazz Journal UK

The 40th Annual Jazz Station Awards / The Best Jazz Albums of 2018

2018 Female Singer: 1. Tiffany Austin (“Unbroken” – Con Alma Music); 2. Anna Luna (“Urubú” – AL); 3. Elisabeth Melander (“Reflections Of A Voice” – Prophone); 4. Jennifer Lee (“My Shining Hour” – SBE Records); 5. Diana Krall (“Love Is Here To Stay” w/ Tony Bennett – Verve); 6. Gabriele Tranchina (“Of Sailing Ships And The Stars In Your Eyes” – Rainchant Eclectic Records); 7. Judi Silvano (“Lessons Learned” – Unit Records); 8. Cécile McLorin Savant (“The Window” – Mack Avenue)

Judi Silvano has always been an adventurous jazz singer, even when she is exploring standards. Lessons Learned features Ms. Silvano not only as a singer but as a composer who wrote all ten songs, both the music and the words.

For the project, the singer leads the Zephyr Band and her use of two guitarists with contrasting sounds is inspiring. The songs include “Round And Round” (a hypnotic and powerful piece that does have a circular feel to it), the well-titled “Dark Things” which has some wild guitar and a repeated staccato melody, the quirky waltz “Castle Song,” and the extended and somewhat dreamy “Riding A Zephyr.” The bass clarinet adds to the atmosphere whenever it is heard (most notably on “Dark Things” and “After Love”) and the two dance pieces “Shuffle And Sway” and “The Music’s In My Body” are joyfully eccentric.

All ten selections should be heard several times for there is a lot occurring that is worth discovering. The musicians sound inspired and constantly play off of each other, taking the music in surprising directions. Judi Silvano sounds very much in prime form no matter how adventurous the music becomes. Lessons Learned is easily recommended and one of Judi Silvano’s finest recordings to date.

– Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene, February 2019

Judi Silvano’s songs have elements of jazz, rock and other genres with a heavy reliance on guitars and her voice is mature, rich and melodic. Sax master Joe Lovano adds percolating life to a calypso groove “Dust” and an impassioned solo on an extended piece while Silvano croons impressively on “Riding a Zephyr”. This album is full of energy and joy and her musical partners bring flexibility and imagination to varied settings, with Bruce Arnold’s and Kenny Wessel’s intermingled guitars a consistent highlight. This is fun stuff from a singer who should be more celebrated!
– Jerome Wilson, AllAboutJazz.com

Judi Silvano’s “Lessons Learned” has moved my thoughts and memories in countless directions, her words awakening so much of a life lived. After careful listening to her thought-provoking lyrics, all I can say is the album has now become a permanent fixture on my iPhone playlist. – –Eric Alan, alljazzradio/co.za/blogs-and-reviews, So.Africa

The album “Lessons Learned”, recently released on Unit Records, consists entirely of Silvano’s compositions, some of them sharp and spiky (“Dark Things”) and others full of wonder (“Round and Round”). One subtle high point is a ballad titled “Hand and Heart.”
– Nate Chinen, WBGO.org

Again and again, Silvano breaks out of the well-established waters of vocal jazz. On her new CD “Lessons Learned” Judi Silvano erupts once again with some thoughtful and lyrical Songs and lets her Zephyr band, including Joe Lovano on “Dust” and “Riding a Zephyr”, improvise freely.
– Concerto Magazine, Switzerland, November 2018

As a respected vocalist, who has four times been named a DownBeat Top Ten Vocalist and Composer, Judi Silvano continues using her composer skills to share life stories that encourage people to recognize that all of humanity is connected. On “Lessons Learned” Judi Silvano has composed all the songs both music and lyrics. I appreciate her songwriting ability and her lyrical messages and as a social message, it is cerebral food for thought. As a composer, Silvano soars.
– Dee Dee McNeil, August 1, 2018

Judi’s compositions are like her paintings – Magical! – Sheila Jordan, NEA Jazz Master

My Dance came as a surprise to longtime followers of singer Judi Silvano in 2014. More than the fact that her only accompaniment was pianist Michael Abene (of WDR Big Band fame) was that Silvano was performing exclusively original material. Although Silvano had included original songs on previous releases, familiar standards were often used as vehicles for improvisation. Silvano the composer takes center stage once more with Lessons Learned.

The vocalist uses a full band to bring her material to life: Kenny Wessel (guitar), Bruce Arnold (processed guitar), Adam Kolker (bass clarinet, tenor and soprano saxophones), Ratzo B. Harris (bass) Bob Meyer (drums) and Todd Isler (percussion). Silvano’s husband Joe Lovano, who produced the session, is featured on tenor saxophone for two selections: the probing, 11-minute “Riding a Zephyr” and noir-ish “Dust”, which hints at the music of Ethiopia and Mali.

The singer’s more abstract side asserts itself on the funky yet angular “The Music’s in My Body” and “Dark Things”, which employs a choppy, punk-ish beat. This is a consistently introspective album and the latter tune finds Silvano examining some darker thoughts.

But more often than not, Lessons Learned has an optimistic outlook; Silvano is definitely seeing the glass as half-full on contemplative offerings such as “Hand and Heart”, “You Will Know”, “Round and Round” and “Castle Song”. “Shuffle and Sway” has the feeling of an African-American spiritual, recalling some of Abbey Lincoln’s collaborations with Max Roach. The defiant, soulful tune is about demanding positive changes in one’s life and letting go of negative things that aren’t working.

Silvano achieves a healthy balance of the melodic and the cerebral. Many jazz vocalists shy away from composing original material, but Silvano is not one of them. She is as skillful a writer as she is a singer and Lessons Learned, like My Dance four years ago, is a fine product of both.
– Alex Henderson, NYC Jazz Record, November 2018

Once again, the jazz vocalist finds that sweet spot between art chick and hard core pro as she delivers a real personal album assessing where she is in life now. Lyrically loaded with lessons all should really be thinking about, this is a Zen jazz set that’s sure to resonate with the current crop of seekers that are trying to take pause and figure the rest of it all out.
– Chris Spector, August 2018, Midwest Record Review

Judi Silvano is a universal artist in a special class. She is a musician, singer, lyricist, dancer and painter. With “Lessons Learned” she surprises us with a graceful pop-jazz sound with multiple effects. First, the messages of some of her songs cheer up her fellow human beings, pushing for the positive. Her poems are expressed in catchy melodies which are broadened by the top jazz players she has in her octet. She has been married to an absolute superstar on the tenor saxophone, Joe Lovano, so asked him to produce this album and he helped his wife to realize these songs which have influences of folk, spiritual or Latin styles. For instance, “After Love” features Adam Kolker (bcl, ss, ts), who worked for years with the famous conguero Ray Barretto. Also, there are 2 guitarists in the band, Kenny Wessel and Bruce Arnold which is a really special thing about this CD. Wessel, who played in the ensemble of Ornette Coleman, and Bruce Arnold, who plays jazz and interprets contemporary classical music, collaborate well together, which generates an exceptional sound. The rhythm is provided by the trio Bob Meyer (dr), Todd Isler (perc) and Ratzo B. Harris (b). Judi Silvano herself has presented jazz with poetry in several projects, has recorded classic songs with unusual ensembles and has founded several successful vocal ensembles. Again and again, Silvano breaks out of the well-established waters of vocal jazz. On her new CD “Lessons Learned” Judi Silvano erupts once again through the civilized channel of pop-jazz with some thoughtful and lyrical Songs and lets her Zephyr band, including Joe Lovano on “Dust” and “Riding a Zephyr”, improvise wildly through the studio.
– Concerto Magazine, November 2018, ewei

The American jazz singer Judi Silvano has such luminaries as the guitarist Kenny Wessel, the bass clarinetist Adam Kolker and tenor Master Joe Lovano who also produced the album of her Zephyr Band. You can therefore assume that she has a formidable reputation on the scene. In sometimes sprawling pieces (“Riding A Zephyr” takes about twelve minutes), Silvano shows her world views with a playful openness reflected in pastel shimmering soundscapes that are created by two guitarists of which the second is Bruce Arnold. Silvano sounds affectionate and spiritual on some of her songs while in others she exhibits a wild abandon. Seldom have we heard a singer being so open and direct, not imitating other singers but singing in her own style. Her voice has an honest and very authentic sound, not spoiled by academic rigidness in spite of many complex passages in her very expressive music.
– Text Rolf Thomas, Jazz thing 125 (Germany)

Quotes & Reviews

The intuitive understanding between musicians is called “chemistry” and Listen To This, with Judi Silvano and Bruce Arnold has chemistry in abundance. The duets on this recording, some improvised, some composed, show a duo who are intensely tuned into every nuance as they follow the sonic twists and turns of these 12 striking songs. This is some deep listening.

“Brilliant. Love it: almost a Kraftwerk twist to it.”
– Rob Taylor, nmblive.com

“Listen to This”  is some beautiful, cosmic music created by two of the most inventive musicians on the scene today”.
– Joe Lovano, Grammy Winner and Berklee College Performance Chair

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From the get-go “Listen to This” will shock jazz purists with the spacey effects on Arnold’s axe and the electronically harmonized multiple Silvano voices.  But vocalist Judi Silvano’s phrasing, inflections, and improvisatory reactions and guitarist Bruce Arnold’s lush harmonies definitely reveal jazz’s genetic imprint.

The definitive breakdown of musical categorization was delivered in 1962 by Duke Ellington: “There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind.” File this album in the Good Music section.
– Steve Holtje, manager, ESP-Disk

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Judi Silvano and Bruce Arnold have created their own world of altered guitar and vocal sounds.  I really like the opening song, “Remembrances”, an otherworldly blues with Judi’s hip-notic vocals harmonized with subtle alien effects.  It’s a sort of fairy-tale vibe, rather like a distant relative to J.A.’s “White Rabbit”.   Ms. Silvano sounds a bit like Iva Bittova on the aptly titled “Space Lullaby”, charming and child-like at times.  On “My Neighborhood” Mr. Arnold does a great job of providing sumptuous sonic soundscapes without playing any predictable single note jazz solos; his guitar sounds like an army of chanting monks as he plays those dark floating chords in the background.

Whatever you do, you got to check out this one: “Great Plains”.  There is something special going on here, completely enchanting with that great sly groove.  This is followed by “Journey To Be Free”, another stunner with a rocking groove but no rhythm team.  Just the guitar and voice.

I didn’t expect this disc to be the most surprising gem of the month, but that it what it is.
– Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery

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“Brilliant. Love it; almost a Kraftwerk twist to it.”
– Rob Taylor nmblive.com

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Judi Silvano & Bruce Arnold’s intuitive jazz guitar/vocal duo – LISTEN TO THIS:

There’s one cardinal rule you must not forget, whether you’re a listener, or a listener who also reviews… be SURE you don’t allow any preconceptions to get in the way of your listening progress… I’ve reviewed Judi’s excellent vocal work many times in the past and Bruce’s guitar work is quite simply the stuff of legend around my review studio… If you check out earlier samples of these two musicians’ recordings, you’ll realize that what they are doing together is (significantly) different.  On exploratory works like the oddly titled “Cats Are Watching”, the electronic effects used together with Judi’s scat just WAKE your spirit UP…  I just LOVED this tune!…

They move back to somewhat more familiar territory on “Complete Embrace” (Silvano’s tune) but with  Bruce’s crispy little “bells” and superb synth sounds that compliment Judi’s silky smooth vocal very nicely… The tune clocks in at a full 9:35, so that gives them more than enough room to explore each others’ creative genius…  This is a relatively simple tune that will transport you (by the end-note) to symphonic (and hallucinatory) bliss!

The title track, “Listen To This”, is short (2:43), but there’s no doubt you’ll be flashing back to territory you thought you’d long left behind… if you’re like me, you’ll be hitting the replay button often on this one.

It is the (almost) “spoken-word” cut, “Journey To Be Free”, that (easily) gets my vote for personal favorite of the dozen sonic adventures offered up, though.  Hearing the transition from “out there” to “completely clear” on this tune will… help you realize that “different” is often “better”.
I give this totally-talented duo a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99 for this superbly performed set of adventurous music.  Get more information at www.Muse-Eek.com/Judi-Silvano-Bruce-Arnold/
– Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews

Quotes & Reviews

Judi Silvano’s vocal capabilities have been known for some time, tested in a myriad of contexts that have proven her versatility.  “Indigo Moods” is her 10th album as the Leader and she works in a minimalist environment together with pianist Peter Tomlinson offering the harmonic context and the trumpeter Fred Jacobs contributing colors and expressive notes.  There are many verses to these standards which do not fail to surprise us.

In the lineup are very famous songs and because they are so well known it is difficult to reproduce them, especially in a situation in which the singer is the center of attention and there is little or nothing to hide behind.  Silvano is, as usual, present with her great voice offering us exciting interpretation, perfect pronunciation, her great sense of rhythm, swing and everything in short that makes a singer a great singer.

Every song has a special story behind it, on which Silvano stretches out with her own interpretation as if it was the final one.  So when you listen you will forget past versions of these songs as Silvano brings them to you fully anchored in the present for Judi Silvano is moving these standards into the future.
 – Di Vittorio Lo Conte, AllAboutJazz Italy

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To hear a singer sing without a net like Judi Silvano does on her Indigo Moods is to invite an intimacy that ought to be germane to the art of singing ballads and torch songs. Channeling the spirits of Rosemary Clooney and Ella Fitzgerald, Silvano takes her own path in the end, sidling up to trumpeter Fred Jacobs and pianist Peter Tomlinson for 14 standards that stay pretty much in a 20th-century time frame.

Silvano’s slight vibrato is most expressive on the slower tunes, like Tadd Dameron’s “If You Could See Me Now,” where the gait of the other players and the singer’s phrasing suggest as to why these three may have put this music together in the first place. While their take on Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo” eventually seems to drag, it’s still filled with obvious sincerity. And Billy Strayhorn’s “A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing” reminds us how the song will always be revisited by artists patient and desirous enough to mine its immense colors and moods. That’s a lot to realize in a singer, even a veteran like Silvano, who, no doubt, sings this song a tad differently than she did when she was 20 years younger.

That’s not to say the upbeat numbers don’t communicate. Irving Berlin’s “It Only Happens When I Dance With You,” an unconventional inclusion, does have that bounce, Silvano’s movements with Tomlinson suggesting a real dance on the floor. And Antonio Jobim’s “If You Never Come To Me” provides a window into Silvano’s scat sensibilities along with perhaps the best example of this trio playing as one. Ending this set with two lovelorn melodies — a reinvention of Thelonious Monk’s “Ugly Beauty” with lyrics for “Still We Dream” and the short, sweet duet with Jacobs on “I’ll Be Seeing You” — proffer the kind of simple delight in a song that seems rare, indeed.
– John Ephland, Downbeat

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It’s been seven years since Judi Silvano served up an all-standards platter. And though intermediary projects included her stellar teaming with Mal Waldron on Riding a Zephyr and the fine salute to female songwriters and musicians Women’s Work, it’s great to hear her take-no-prisoners approach applied to a fresh baker’s dozen of sturdy chestnuts. On this 10th album in 20 years, Silvano leaves delicacy and coyness to lesser songbirds, tackling these tunes with the might and finesse of a world-class boxer. Those not used to such sugar-free directness might at first find her a little off-putting; closer listening will reveal a depth of emotional honesty and perceptiveness that few can match.

Working with her regular trio mates, pianist Peter Tomlinson and trumpeter Fred Jacobs, Silvano remains true to the album’s title across a refreshingly forthright “You’ve Changed,” a multihued “If You Could See Me Now” and a stark “You Don’t Know What Love Is” that is a brilliant exercise in naked despair. Even selections traditionally given sunnier readings—“But Beautiful,” “If I Had You,” “It Only Happens When I Dance With You,” “Let’s Fall in Love”—are tempered with caution, their lyrical hopefulness undercut by loneliness lurking at their edges. Particularly arresting is her restless meander through a densely fogged “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing,” teetering between dream and nightmare. And there is a 14th track that, straying slightly from the Great American Songbook, finds Silvano swirling through a funhouse—or madhouse, or perhaps both—constructed of Monk’s “Still We Dream.”
-Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times

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Judi Silvano sings these well-chosen standards superbly!  We hear a voice extremely reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald in her later period, and this comparison pertains not just to vocal timbre, but to articulation and interpretation of the music as well.

After receiving a degree in classical music and dance from Temple University in Philadelphia, Silvano came to New York City and studied jazz singing with Jeanne Lee and Sheila Jordan. She is often compared to Norwegian singer Karin Krog and is known widely for her contributions to the albums of her husband, Joe Lovano, where she sings in an instrumental manner.

On her recent CD, “Indigo Moods,” she gracefully negates all that this might imply, showing that she can also deliver lyrics with maturity.  The influence of Abbey Lincoln and her music led Silvano to record Lincoln’s song, Not To Worry, as part of her “Women’s Work” CD and to study and focus on “telling the story” of a song.  She has reached a new level of expression.

The musicians accompanying Judi Silvano here on “Indigo Moods” are pianist Peter Tomlinson and trumpeter Fred Jacobs, and together they create a highly sensitive trio who feel like fish in pure water in this aesthetic zone.
– Jazz Forum / Poland jazzforum.com.pl

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Vocalist Judi Silvano celebrates 20 years of jazz recording with the release of Indigo Moods on the Jazzed Media label. After recording in a variety of formats, with and without husband and tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, Silvano lands here with a collection of standards that features pianist Peter Tomlinson providing the harmonic guidance and trumpeter Fred Jacobs adding the color. Such an intimate environment provides maximum artistic exposure for vocalists, and only the most experienced singers can not only withstand such exposure, but turn it to their benefit. Silvano does exactly both with grace and poise.

Silvano makes this an intensely personal project, permeating the music with her experience, artistry and courage. “Skylark” is almost idiosyncratic with her approach and phrasing, as is the final verse of Duke Ellington’s “Mood Indigo.” Silvano bends notes to cry uncle, creating a harmonic tension and release that is the bread and butter of only the best singers. Like tenor saxophonist John Coltrane’s tone, Silvano’s voice is not so much pretty as commanding and sublime. It is one that cannot be ignored.

If Indigo Moods has a center of gravity, it is Tadd Dameron’s exquisite ballad, “If You Could See Me Now.” The divine chemistry between Silvano, Tomlinson and Jacobs is transparent to the quantum-level point, giving an aural glimpse of what makes the craft of jazz vocals such a special subset of the overall genre. Jacobs plays muted, giving an organic reading of the accompaniment flourishes that give vocal recitals their deep hues and tones. Silvano captures all of the melancholy of love lost, deeply etched with her singing experience. These are the qualities that make this recording so exceptional. This is experienced singing sung well.
– C. Michael Bailey, AllAboutJazz.com

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Name sound familiar? It should. Judi Silvano celebrates her 20th Anniversary of her recording career with the release of her tenth recording, Indigo Moods. A slight departure for Silvano has a release full of popular jazz standards but dialed back to a more intimate somewhat organic presentation. Working with a trio for a jazz singer can be the equivalent of high wire act working without a net as one mistake can spell certain disaster for the less experienced vocalist.

Just to make things interesting, Silvano opts for a different trio format with Peter Tomlinson on piano and Fred Jacobs on trumpet and the resulting dynamic seemingly reinvents each tune allowing Silvano the unique opportunity to place her own indelible mark on each number. The standard trio with vocals by it’s very nature turns into a soloist with two accompanists i.e. the rhythm section. Peter Tomlinson and Fred Jacobs both contribute their own voicing in such a way as to blend for a richer dynamic. “Skylark” the Hoagy Carmichael/Johnny Mercer classic takes the melodic yet melancholy route with Jacobs trumpet fills. Silvano’s vocals are spot on and Tomlinson’s piano fill in the complete musical picture with style and elegance. “Let’s Fall In Love” while dialed back never loses the infectious swing with Silvano’s articulation and Tomlinson’s bright and breezy work on the piano bench. “Embraceable You” is kicked off with the rhythmic movement before the lyrics start again providing an interesting if not whimsical dynamic to this set of timeless standards.

Indigo Moods is a solid and dynamic offering by perhaps the most unique vocal trio you will hear but their chemistry and melodic re-invention of some iconic standards are as adventurous and inventive as any arrangements you may come across.
– Brent Black, CriticalJazz.com

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So what makes this album of great American songbag chestnuts different from all the other ones out there? Could it be that Silvano is in front of only a piano and trumpet? Nah. Silvano is in touch with something here. She takes these songs back to the clip joints from where they originally got traction, but she’s not emulating the chanteuses at the better clip joints. She’s channeling the broads belting it out at the dive bars with all the vulnerability, pain and edge of a nervous breakdown energy that bisexual, single moms with drug habits could muster back in the day. Cinematic in way’s you can’t even imagine, you might never hear these well worn songs in the same way again. All that’s missing is the intro where she details how this song is going out to that someone special, the one that knows who they are even if they couldn’t be with us tonight. Whew.
– Midwest Record

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Judi Silvano is not only one of the most adventurous vocalists in modern jazz, she may also be one of the least predictable. Which of course is a major ingredient in “adventurous” art of any sort. Having detoured from her more typical avant garde bent in 2005 with Let Yourself Go (Zoho Music), she took another turn in 2007 in celebration of Women’s Work (JSL Records) —compositions by the often under-rated women who have nevertheless made their marks on a genre dominated by men. Back in her more daring realm in 2008, she (finally) released Cleome: Lives Takes, recorded in 1999-2000 with her chordless cohorts (George Garzone, Michael Formanek and Gerry Hemingway). There’s been a bit of a lull between recording projects, but the wait is over and, of course, things are not the way they used to be. On Indigo Moods, Judi takes a set of familiar songs and brands them with her unique interpretive style, all the more removed from the usual presentation by her choice of the deceptively simple backing of piano (Peter Tomlinson) and trumpet (Fred Jacobs).

Judi explains in her liner note that “Indigo Moodsis the flowering of my love affair with life… the integration of these vast influences [the art traditions of her native Philadelphia, her life in New York and world travels] with my own inquisitive nature and years of living in the music… These well-known songs…express life’s beauty and struggles.” The set list includes fourteen songs from diverse but popular sources, from Ellington to Tadd Dameron to Monk and Gershwin, but, coming from Judi and the pairing of piano and trumpet, it’s a new day for each tune.

From the first verse of the majestically paced opening “Mood Indigo,” the genius of the instrumentation is apparent, the piano serving as the primary foil for Judi’s voice, trumpet providing counterpoint and solo breaks that lead Judi into more experimental territory, as if a second horn. And who says modern jazz can’ swing? Piano and trumpet team up on “You’ve Changed” to give Judi loosely constructed guideposts, but each of the three musicians takes his or her own route through the song. Tomlinson stays just slightly behind Judi on “Skylark,” Jacobs offering glowing commentary.

With just piano, “Let’s Fall in Love” swings in a slightly off-center fashion, just enough to keep ears on alert while feet keep tapping all the way through. Judi carries the melody nearly a cappella on “But Beautiful” as her cohorts abstractly trace the chords, yielding elegant results. “If I Had You” is relaxed and swinging, embellished by the slightly sassy tone of Jacob’s trumpet and Judi’s easygoing scat.

The trio stretches out a bit on a tastefully voiced interpretation of Tadd Dameron’s “If You Could See Me Now,” while Irving Berlin’s “It Only Happens When I Dance With You” is given a brief, swaying reading as a slightly dissonant piano/voice duet. Jacobs opens “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing,” his mournful trumpet paving the way for Judi’s tender phrasing. Moving south of the border, the trio tackles Jobim’s “If You Never Come to Me,” highlighted by Judi’s scatting duel with Jacobs, like two horns dancing around each other while Tomlinson provides a gently breezy interlude. The Silvano/Jacobs pairing also highlights “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” Judi wrapping the lyrics around Fred’s bluesy commentary, Tomlinson a subdued but critical partner in propelling the song forward.

Few songs are covered as often as Gershwin’s “Embraceable You,” but seldom with this degree of originality as Judi creates a bossa-tinged arrangement in which the English lyrics take on a scat quality. The interplay of the trio here has as many charms as the song itself. “Still We Dream,” on the other hand, is covered far too infrequently. Mike Ferro’s lyricized version of Monk’s “Ugly Betty” naturally lends itself to some experimentation, and the Silvano/Tomlinson duo offer an engaging blend of minimalism and lyrical abstraction. The set closes with a relatively brief arrangement of “I’ll Be Seeing You,” just Judi and a muted echo from Jacobs.

Over the years, Judi Silvano has proven herself to be a complex and far-reaching musician, as comfortable on swinging standards as on the most obtuse reconstructions of melody and harmony or original works. Beyond her signature vocal interpretations, however, Judi continually forges new territory through her collaborations, and Indigo Moods – melding voice, piano and trumpet–presents one of her most satisfying alliances to date.
– Andrea Canter, JazzPolice.com

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Jazz vocalist/composer Judi Silvano, who celebrates 20 years of recording with her new standards album, “Indigo Moods” (released last week via Jazzed Media), will take center stage on Saturday, May 5, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., at Trumpets Jazz Club, 6 Depot Square. Cover charge is $15. For reservations, call 973-744-2600.

Silvano has had a successful career as both a vocalist and a composer, premiering original works with musicians such as Joe Lovano and Kenny Werner. Recently, she was chosen to have two of her classical works featured at the New York Women Composers’ concert at Symphony Space’s Thalia Theatre in New York City.

Her album, “Indigo Moods” is a collection of standards, featuring Silvano, pianist Peter Tomlinson and trumpeter Fred Jacobs. The arrangements on the album were mostly developed during the recording session, which Silvano led, while keeping an open collaborative environment.

What makes this release different from her previous nine albums is that “Indigo Moods” consists entirely of familiar popular jazz standards delivered in an extremely intimate setting. Silvano grew up listening to singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, but needed to study and learn the repertoire in order to make the stylistic transition from the classical style to the more dramatic jazz singing. Since that time, she has completed 10 recordings under her own name, and sung on numerous others, collaborating with leading jazzmen of multiple generations.

Silvano has been collaborating with Peter and Fred as a trio for more than two years. “The synthesis of our musicality allows us to weave our melodic ideas by carefully listening to each other as we play these vintage tunes,” the vocalist stated in an email to The Times. “With this recording, I feel I have integrated bringing these songs to life in my own personal way with a sense of ease. And at least, for me, that only comes with having lived a little longer from experience.”
– Montclair Times

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Jazz musician Judi Silvano was born into a family who love the arts and it has had a large impact on her life.  In a recent interview Silvano spoke about her upbringing, influences and her new album out now called Indigo Moods (Jazzed Media) which features Peter Tomlinson on piano and Fred Jacobs on trumpet.

Silvano is part of a musical family, which has helped her connect with people on many different levels.  Her influences are broad, including jazz, big band and classical.  She is a talented artist in many areas other than music including dance, painting and pottery.  Silvano has just recently published her first painting.  One of her paintings is shown on the cover of the album as well as the small picture inside the CD with the blue house and sunset.

For Indigo Moods, she chose her most heartfelt favorite songs such as “Embraceable You” and “Let’s Fall in Love.”  Silvano said, “I’ve always been influenced by Ella Fitzgerald because she is so brilliant, but I didn’t want to copy her.”  Silvano came up with the idea of her tenth album from playing gigs with Tomlinson and Jacobs.  The three musicians perform well together, so she felt that she should record an album with them.  She chose some of her favorite songs and the finished product is a wonderful album that is a must have for any jazz fan.

Silvano said, “Music makes me feel good.  It makes people feel good.  Music is a celebration that brings people together.”
– Michelle Humphrey, Denver Jazz and R&B Examiner

Quotes & Reviews

Allan Reutershan, a massage therapist and hypnotherapist for over 25 years, has developed a technique blending massage therapy with hypnosis.

Hypno-massage, as he calls it, has helped people realize their self-healing potential, yielding excellent results in such areas as overcoming chronic pain, smoking cessation, weight management, sports enhancement, relaxation, and stress relief.

Allan was so inspired by their music, that he decided to create his own guided narration  along with the creative music of Judi Silvano and Joe Lovano.  When played in a quiet setting, it will provide fertile ground for the listener to enter a hypnotic trance.

In the words of the world-famous hypnotherapist, Dr. Milton Erickson, such a trance is defined as “a pleasant, temporary interruption of habitual behavior in order for creative solutions to take place.”

The aim of this CD is to foster one’s innate power to heal oneself from within!