With his new release, “Lullaby,” Leajato Amara Robinson has created a shimmering celebration of the essence of jazz, an ode to the lost magic world of MGM musicals and the radiant voices of Lena Horne and Judy Garland. Rather than being a mere tip of the hat, this one combines homage and invention to produce something thoughtful and yet strikingly fresh.
The song reads like a shared goodbye, tender, undoubtedly nuanced, introducing us to that heightened world where every note is felt. Carolyn Leonhart’s singing is utterly beguiling, and her gentle delivery and emotive range crystallize the bittersweet sense of elegance that Robinson had in mind.
Piano arrangements from Bennett Paster drive with equal levels of authority, setting out tangled melodies which are just as rhythmic and flow towards a dialogue between voice and instruments. The band has Jim Whitney on bass, Freddie Bryant on guitar, and Rob Garcia on drums, which provides subtle support that allows the vocal and piano lines to shine through with clarity. Robinson has created something deeply personal and that feels firmly rooted in the here and now.
The track is an exhibition of her two most significant strengths, a composer and a visionary curator, full to the brim of complex musicality with deep emotional breadth. In a world in which modern jazz can seem remote or cerebral, “Lullaby” is an eloquent commentary on the music’s soul-stirring capabilities. It’s a master stroke, a timeless whisper, an elegant siren seduction to hang around and bathe longer in the beauty of sound.
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