Rebecca Angel: “Love Life Choices” (2021) CD Review

I started listening to Rebecca Angel back in 2015, so it comes as something of a surprise to learn that Love Life Choices, her new release, is actually her debut full-length album. Everything before this has been singles and EPs. Music on this album is a mix of original material and covers, and the covers encompass a fairly wide range of musical territory, from jazz to reggae. Rebecca Angel’s father, Dennis Angel, joins her on flugelhorn and trumpet, though surprisingly plays on only a few tracks. Also joining Rebecca Angel on this release are Jason Miles on keyboards, Romero Lubambo on guitar, Dean Brown on guitar, Reggie Washington on bass, Gene Lake on drums, and Brian Dunne on drums, along with several guests on various tracks.

The album opens with a cover of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” which Rebecca Angel released as a single last October. It is a song that was particularly timely during the last administration when peaceful protesters were attacked by the police, in some cases under the direction of the president himself. And, as we are learning now, that racist conman had told the police and military to shoot and kill civil rights protesters. Insane. “Everybody look, what’s going down.” Rebecca Angel offers a really good rendition here, with a funky element, and the band gets a chance to jam on this a bit in the second half. I particularly like Dean Brown’s work on guitar, and those great touches by Dennis Angel, who plays trumpet on this track. Maya Azucena joins Rebecca Angel on backing vocals, and Bashiri Johnson is on percussion. That’s followed by “Till Now (Gymnopédie No. 1),” which is an original composition. Well, sort of. The music is by pianist Erik Satie, but the lyrics are by Rebecca Angel. This is a sweet-sounding song, the lyrics delivered in a smooth fashion. “I know you’re not here/I am alone.” On this track, Rebecca Angel provides her own backing vocals. Mark Rivera joins her on congas.

“Side By Side” has an electronic pop vibe, and is an original song, co-written by Jason Miles, who plays keyboards and synthesizer bass, and does the drum programming. And yet, with all the electronic sounds, Rebecca Angel’s vocals still manage to have an intimate sound. “When you’re with me/I see the sun/Side by side/’Til the day is done.” The rhythm is catchy, and I love Dennis Angel’s work on flugelhorn. That is followed by a cover of Bill Withers’ “Just The Two Of Us,” which Rebecca Angel released as a single in April. She does a fantastic job with this song, totally inhabiting it and turning in one of her best vocal performances, soulful and passionate, even dipping into a bit of scat in the middle. This track also features some nice work by Gene Lake on drums, and it is the percussion that starts this track. Ada Rovatti joins her on tenor saxophone, Ira Siegel is on guitar, and Maya Azucena adds some wonderful backing vocals. Rebecca Angel then ventures into reggae with a cover of Bob Marley’s “Waiting In Vain.” Her vocals have a sweet, soothing quality. On this track she gets some help from Nir Felder on guitar. Mark Rivera is on congas, and Jimmy Bralower is on percussion.

Rebecca Angel covers two compositions by Antonio Carlos Jobim. The first, “Corcovado,” begins in a beautiful, dreamlike world, a place where Rebecca Angel seems completely at home. “This is where I want to be/Here with you so close to me,” she sings. Dennis Angel adds more nice work on flugelhorn, and this track features a wonderful lead by Romero Lubambo on guitar. Cyro Baptista is on percussion. And at the end, as she returns to the song’s first line, “Quiet nights, quiet stars,” everything is so smooth and so sexy. She follows that with the second Jobim composition, “Waters Of March.” Here she steps out of that dream back to Earth, and delivers the lyrics at a good clip. Pamela Driggs joins her on vocals. This track also features Jay Rodriguez on flute, and contains that rather playful ending. That’s followed by a cover of Sade’s “Maureen.” I was never a big fan of Sade, but this song will speak to those folks who have lost someone during the pandemic, and I do really like Hailey Niswanger’s work on alto saxophone here. Christian Ver Halen is on guitar, and Richie Morales is on percussion on this track.

We then return to original material with “Thoughts And Prayers,” a song that was released as a single in 2019. This song addresses the gun violence problem, which is absolutely staggering in this country, and seems to be getting worse. Here Rebecca Angel mentions the emptiness of thoughts and prayers, and how wishful thinking won’t solve anything. There are a lot of compelling lyrics, such as these lines: “Waking up, it’s all I see/The fear and hate consuming me” and “And we keep grieving and keep on lying/Seems it’s normal to be dying/What’s the point to keep on trying.” This is my personal favorite track on this album. And to all the Second Amendment enthusiasts out there, let me wish you a headlong run into a brick wall. The album concludes with another original song, “Summer Song (Electro Remix).” A different version of this song was released as a single in 2019. This is a sweet and pretty song, and of course perfect for summer, like a cold glass of lemonade during a heat wave. And I love Gottfried Stoger’s lead on soprano saxophone in the second half.

CD Track List

1. For What It’s Worth
2. Till Now (Gymnopédie No. 1)
3. Side By Side
4. Just The Two Of Us
5. Waiting In Vain
6. Corcovado
7. Waters Of March
8. Maureen
9. Thoughts And Prayers
10. Summer Song (Electro Remix)
    

Love Life Choices was released on June 11, 2021 on Timeless Grooves Records.