Afterallogy

Album review

Noa, an iconic Israeli singer of Yemeni heritage, opens up the "American Songbook", digs out some great jazz standards and then pastes in a few pages of her own. We get This Masquerade by Leon Russell, and also some personal creations in a jazzy vein (Eyes of Rain, Waltz for Neta). This project was born in the midst of the global lockdown, which kept people isolated, and inspired many to return to their fundamental values. The singer and her musical partner of 30 years, guitarist and arranger Gil Dor, found themselves working together on a collection of songs which had made profound impressions on them. The album starts with an intimate performance of the legendary My Funny Valentine by Rodgers and Hart. These two legendary songwriters are soon joined by Cole Porter (Anything Goes and Every Time We Say Goodbye, an obvious choice to close out the album) as well as the composers Jimmy Van Heusen (But Beautiful, Darn That Dream) and Billy Strayhorn (Lush Life). These masterpieces from the 30s and 40s sit alongside Something Coming which Leonard Bernstein wrote for West Side Story in the early 60s; and a composition by Pat Metheny named Calling Home, with added lyrics by Noa. Gil Dor also arranges a musical setting of some verses by the Israeli poet Leah Goldberg. Goldberg is a source of inspiration for the duo on Oh Lord, on which the singer gets an opportunity to do some scatting. The Afterallogy project enjoys judicious, no-frills production, and it is intended to be adapted by bands of varying size. The pair plan to follow it up with a release which draws more heavily on rock'n'roll. © Benjamin MiNiMuM/Qobuz