Denise Mangiardi follows up her celebrated debut with an awe-inspiring new album, "On The Brink." This cross-genre tour de force is borne of jazz elegance and orchestral brains. The collection reinforces Mangiardi's status as a master of contemporary music.
"On The Brink," Mangiardi serves an immersive aural experience, weaving her fresh, original compositions and classic reinterpreted American songbook numbers. Her signature magic of combining complex jazz harmonies with rich, orchestral textures comes front and center, with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra deftly accompanying her chameleonic vocals and vibrant arrangements. The result is a richly cinematic soundscape, drawing listeners into profound feeling and musical elegance.
On The Brink, the title track is a poignant reflection on metamorphosis and artistic evolution; it encapsulates Mangiardi's fearless approach to composition. The Walk, meanwhile, mesmerizes with its emotive phrasing and fluid dialogue among voice, piano, and strings. "On The Brink" 32 minutes presents a tour through Jones's mastery of complexity married to accessibility, each sonority handily communicating expansion for the longtime traveler and the new arrival.
Mangiardi's ability to masterfully push musical boundaries while respecting the rich and diverse jazz traditions is accomplished and exuberantly satisfying. "On The Brink" is a masterful artistic statement that attests to the depth of her musicianship and unlimited potential in orchestration for jazz.