Nancy Erickson Lamont - Through The Passages
(Vital Flame Productions, 2024)
Seattle-centered Nancy Erickson Lamont abandons the standards of her first three albums in favor of a collection of 12 original compositions. The last time we heard from the singer was in 2018 when she released her popular live recording Hear & Now: Nancy Erickson Live (Vital Flame Productions, 2018) as “Nancy Erickson” (before her marriage since).
Lamont assembles a potent band comprised of pianist-composer-conductor Josh Nelson, pianist Shawn Schlogel, bassists Chris Symer and Michael Glynn, and drummer Stefan Schatz. Lamont’s themes are positive, love in its splendor expressed with thoughtful and reflective emotion that plumbs mysterious and mundane seasons of love. From the set, "G' N' K" warms to a simmering blues featuring saxophonist Brent Jensen and trombonist Jerome Smith featuring dust-up solos. "Did It Did or Did It Didn't" is a wink at Louis Jordan and has Lamont navigating the "I Got Rhythm" contrafact with robust enthusiasm.
Lamont shows us what singing from a position of contentment and happiness sounds like. Well done.