REVIEW: Patty Ascher’s “Bossa, Jazz ‘n’ Samba”

A title like Bossa, Jazz ‘n’ Samba (Zoho) works two ways. One, some might feel the different genres is not only an explanation of what lurks inside, but it may be a bit intimidating: what exactly is Patty Ascher good at: one, the other, and can it be all three? After listening to this album a number of times, I can say that she is someone who is a pop artist in the classic sense, and one that I wish would be able to develop a bigger and bolder career in these times.

I say this because Ascher is obviously someone who listened to the classics and knows how to execute this beautifully. All but one of these songs are originals, so she’s not only trying to let people know what she sounds like, but also let others know that she can write with the best of them. Ascher sing in both English and Portuguese, so hearing her samba and bossa nova songs aren’t just the admiration of an outsider, it is genuine. I’ve never visited Brazil before but I’d like to think in a country rich with culture and music, Ascher’s music would either play a role or I would be able to experience the joy I hear by exploring what that land has to offer. Fans of vocal jazz, especially those who explore the sounds of South America, will find a new album to put into heavy rotation.