Emily Zuzik – age & alchemy EP
Well, it can’t be said that some of the younger artists recording today independently haven’t learned their blues, alt-country & thrill of rocking out on an opening tune. But Los Angeles-based Emily Zuzik certainly didn’t miss any classes in this genre. No.
From the ass-boogieing “Easy,” to the more beautifully woven & subtle “Between Midnight & Memphis,” Emily coaxes the bluesy resources of her fine Tracy Nelson-Bonnie Raitt-Bonnie Bramlett voicings into warm steam tonality. The exceptional 6-song EP age & alchemy (Drops May 2/Maenades Music/24:09) is all worth it just to hear how she concludes “Between Midnight & Memphis.”
Her sound is atmospheric, & though it’s not moody, each song has its mood temperature. The more noirish “The Case For Slowing Down” is a sensuous blues — a somewhat sibilant voice with vaporous guitar notes. Good arrangement too & application with significance. Emily doesn’t sing this as much as act it out like an actress. She’s performing a part & it’s like a part in a dramatic musical. An aside, like when Bessie Smith sang “St. Louis Blues” in an old 1929 film clip.
A John Lennon cover, “I’m Losing You,” is convincing as a slow blues-easy listening jazzier take. This is how a cover of a major artist’s song should be – different from the original, if not equally effective & compelling. Oh, Lennon would’ve loved this.
Emily is 7 LPs deep with this set produced by Emily & Ted Russell Kamp (bass/acoustic guitar/Hammond organ). She digs deep when vocally & sounds like someone a musician would take joy in playing with. Ms. Zuzik does display at times a Lucinda Williams persuasive vocalizing charm (but not as raw).
She’s warmer on “Taking a Walk” as her voice swaggers into a Norah Jones/Madeleine Peyroux puree. Emily could go from cocktail lounge to juke joint in a finger snap. Diversity is the key for a well-rounded entertainer & Emily fits the bill. Her material is sophisticated, contemplative, with just the right amount of exuberance & soulfulness.
A masterful deep pool of notes spills from Art Hays’ sax that rips through the excellent “Love’s About To Take a Fall.” It has all the muscle needed to support Emily’s Karen Lawrence-like ecstatic range (former vocalist with 1994 & Blue By Nature on tunes like “Once Again,” especially the finale & “Bring It Home”). Karen’s pipes were other-worldly & Emily’s voice at times…has that special uh…let me think now…alchemy.
Yeah, that’s it. Emily makes the music she creates come out of the speakers glistening.
Highlights – “Easy,” “Between Midnight & Memphis,” “The Case For Slowing Down,” “I’m Losing You,” “Taking a Walk,” & “Love’s About To Take a Fall.”
Musicians – Brian Whelan (electric guitar/Hammond organ/Wurlitzer/Rhodes), John Schreffler (electric guitar/pedal steel), Christopher Allis (drums/percussion) & Riley Holmes (harmony vocals).
Color image courtesy of Emily’s Bandcamp. CD @ Bandcamp + https://www.emilyzuzik.com/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Emily Zuzik “Torch & Trouble”
