JEAN CARNE JID012 OUT NOW
The voice of Jean Carne is an instrument of delicate, aqueous dimensions, shape shifting across era and genre. It has graced some of the most sought-after subterranean jazz and guided several generations of stars to new heights. Now, Jean Carne JID012 brings her magnetic talent front and center, showcasing the legend’s alchemical vocal abilities in the latest offering from Jazz Is Dead.
Perhaps best known to listeners for her collaborations with Doug Carn in the early 1970s, Jean Carne has left a legacy that runs deep. She bridged a generational gap, coming from her earlier recordings that were rooted in Spiritual Jazz, towards Philly Soul, Disco, and R&B. In the process, Carne has worked with luminaries such as Azar Lawrence, Phyllis Hyman, Michael Jackson, Lonnie Liston Smith, Earth, Wind & Fire, and many others. It is near impossible to tune into pop music today and not hear a vocalist emulating, in some way or form, Carne’s distinct vocal acrobatics.
Here, Carne’s unmistakably limber voice flutters across seven tracks, exploring the possibilities and power of love- of self, of community, of powers from above. Reminiscent of masterworks by Weldon Irvine or Carne’s frequent collaborator Norman Connors, the arrangements crafted by Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad stand at the border of introspection and exuberance. “My Mystic Life” invites listeners to “come and find life on Mars” or “listen to the cosmos,” while “The Summertime” is a funky ode to hot pavement and looking your best.
