REVIEW: Fernandez & Wright’s “Unsung”
Fernandez & Wright are a duo from Australia who call jazz their primary genre of music, but the music and vocal strength of these two go far beyond the limitations they’ve created as a means for classification, as shown beautifully on their album Unsung (New Market Music).
If calling yourself “jazz” is a means of showing talent and grace, then Fernandez & Wright have this in abundance. Outside of great playing and singing, the songwriting on this is the kind that used to be in abundance as well, but has been hidden as a specialty item in today’s musical menu. The songs range from deep passionate feelings of love and loss to questioning the world and their place in it, but within it is the kind of emotion and power that made me want to play these songs (and the album) repeatedly. There’s jazz here of course, but you’ll also hear hints of pop, Latin salsa, blues, and soul from someone who brings her personal experiences into their mix. Wright guitar work, both acoustic and electric, add the perfect aura to Fernandez’s voice, and having a great band behind them will make the light bulbs flicker in the mind to make the listener say “yes, this is perfect, or the closest thing to it.” Had Soulstice or Gina Rene branched out into a more jazzier vibe, it may have sounded like the music created by Fernandez & Wright.
