Bristol based singer Julie Abbe’s debut album, NUMBERLESS DREAMS, released in 2020 was a poetic acoustic delight, but OUT OF THE ASHES the 2024 follow up is truly special, crackling with atmosphere and power. “Lanternes d’or” with Abbe’s sophisticated vocal and Ewan Bleach’s cool reeds and piano is the epitome of French Cafe Jazz. “Au Bord de la Riviere” is full of longing with Paul Johnson’s bamboo flute, a mixture of Eastern and Celtic mystery adding a sense of place. The star though is still Julie’s superb gently fluttering voice duetting with Sam Quintana’s double bass. “Melusine” is full of mystery, multi tracked Johnson, playing gralla, kaval, the bamboo flute and percussion and Quintana’s bass, conjuring the sound of North Africa with Abbe’s voice rich and ceremonial. This is dark, heady stuff indeed. “Take Me Away” and “Hushing The Blues Away” are jazzy Folk Blues, with superb guitar from James Grunwell and Julie and Isolde’s Torch Singer vocals. Alongside Abbe’s Cassandra Wilson like singing are sophisticated New Orleans clarinet parts from Ewan Bleach. Sitting somewhere between Jazz and Folk is the superb “Shadows”. Julie’s wordless vocal, Ewan’s clarinet and Paul Johnson’s violin carry the melody while bass, guitar and drums lay down a visceral almost klezmer beat. James and Nick Rasle contribute beautiful guitar to Abbe’s “Songs Of Love”. Throughout the album Julie’s vocals and songs are a delight, but the way she gives the musicians room to play makes it feel like a band album, not a singer with a backing band. “Songs Of Love” is a track where the playing and the vocals both hold your attention completely. “Summer Child” and “Out” are Abbe song with folky lyrics drifting through a tight swinging arrangement to create a hypnotic whole. “Out” has Julie’s voice and Grunwell’s electric guitsr creating real menace and edge. “Medusa” has the beguiling touch of timeless Billie Holiday to it as Julie croons through some almost trad sounding lyrics. “Incantation” as the title suggests is very lithe, dancing jazz as Abbe sings about slow ecstasy.
Julie Abbe has drawn on her love of theatre, her native french poitou bal folk tradition and her studies of vocal jazz to create something special. There is a musical coming together of Folk Music and Jazz at the moment and Abbe’s OUT OF THE ASHES sits amongst the best. Julie brings the atmosphere of both torch jazz singers and eerie traditional music together in a way that is quietly impressive on this satisfying album.
Marc Higgins 16/06/24
https://julieabbe.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-the-ashes
Own label 12 tracks
Time Past and Time Passing 