After a strong debut with Honeysweet, Canadian-born, Seattle-based jazz singer Heather Ward returns with her glowing new single, "Into the Music," the lead track from her forthcoming sophomore album, "Gilded & Silver." Weaving together the warmth of jazz intimacy with a filmmaker's sense of nuance, "Into the Music" is both a reflection on Ward's artistic evolution and an homage to the timeless traditions of jazz.
"Into the Music" is welcoming in the sense of an embrace of sound that invites listeners into a world where each note feels considered, and each phrase is thoughtfully placed. The voice of the soulful and sensuous Ward is rich and full-bodied with a natural warmth, drawing you in, proving an absolute pleasure to listen to, and it's no wonder she has acquired such a following since Honeysweet. As with Ward's previous music, the track strikes a balance of polish without feeling overworked.
Teaming up again with longtime partner Dave Houghton, Ward produces arrangements that are understated yet mischievous. Helped by an accompaniment that includes John Hansen and Aidan Ward-Richter on piano, Moe Weisner and Shaina Ward Siegel on bass, Luca Cartner on drums, Kate Olson and Jory Tindall on saxophones and flute, and Carey Rayburn on trumpet, they provide a texture that adds to the layered beauty of the song. What's significant is that Ward-Richter's reharmonizations are full of graceful surprises that hold the listener's interest time and time again, and that Ben Lange's mixing at Lange Recording Studios is so effortlessly expert that every instrumental and vocal angle gleams.
What is most striking about "Into the Music" is Ward's ability to combine technical mastery with emotional resonance. There is a sense of pure intention in each moment, yet everything flows effortlessly, a rare and hard-to-achieve combination. For new fans and those of her debut, the track serves as an introduction to the whole album, "Gilded & Silver," which promises a mix of originals and artful arrangements that showcase Ward's deep musical lineage.