Following her previously acclaimed discs Toward Love and Lifeline, Latz' Fig Tree is a wide ranging and ambitious project, backed by a remarkable set of players, that includes acid jazz, spellbinding ballads, songs in Portuguese and Greek, and three originals worthy of becoming new standards. Latz takes on each genre with confidence and style demonstrating skills reminiscent of Mel Torme in her purity and pitch, but also of Joao Gilberto when she brings us to velvety intimate moments. Deborah has a distinctive sound as wide ranging as her musical interests - gentle pianissimo at times, and edgy and brassy when she is showing us a spark of fire or irony. And, like Betty Carter, she can deconstruct a song to create a surprising new sound, uniquely her own.
In June 2011, Latz formed a group with pianist Jon Davis, guitarist John Hart and bassist Ray Parker. Within a short time, they knew they needed to record the magic that they were creating. Deborah notes, "We found an organic, rooted, musical place where we all created in the moment. We took our time to allow the ideas to develop, and within just a few months, the vibe was there. I realized I had to capture it while it was fresh."
Latz' recording career began in 2004 with her debut CD, Toward Love featuring Jimmy Wormworth, which earned immediate praise: "Her voice rings with a fetching richness...I'm Bewitched." (Dan McClenaghan, AllAboutJazz.com). "...one of the BEST new voices I ve heard in a LONG time...." (Jan Jenson, Jazz Now). Her 2008 sophomore release Lifeline featuring Joel Frahm, received even wider critical acclaim: ""I Didn't Know" hits glory strides à lá Carla White." (Fred Bouchard, DownBeat).
"I hadn t heard this lady until I played Lifeline, but I'm now an ardent fan." (Steve Emerine, Arizona Daily Star).
"...a sensibility that incites a lyric with her innate dramatic instincts..." (Alan Bargebuhr, Cadence).
"Latz knows how to deliver the songs with a different slant... jazz vocal fans have a new star to celebrate." (Chris Spector, Midwest Record).
On "Blue Skies" Latz shows her funk chops, and allows the lyrics to breath, while offering some signature scatting. John Hart sets up hip, clean guitar lines, while Ray Parker and Willard Dyson hold down the rhythm on bass and drums. Latz' original and title track, "Fig Tree" weaves a fantastical tale combining offbeat syllables and unexpected sounds with a swinging bass and drums. Latz' whimsical lyrics surprise and delight, and the solos alternate in and out of time with Latz, Davis and Hart clearly digging in and having a ball. "You Are" another Latz original, opens with the prodigious Peter Apfelbaum on tenor sax. Apfelbaum lays the groundwork for this indelible love poem told with Latz' fresh and poignant delivery intertwining with the tenor sax, while Willard Dyson's sparse percussion lends an otherworldly take. And on the breathtakingly beautiful duet, "Moon River", Jon Davis is a genius as he caresses the keys, while Latz answers with a devastatingly heartfelt delivery.
Deborah Latz demonstrates an outstanding range of technique and creative musicality that places her at the forefront of jazz today.
Fig Tree is richly shaped and supported by veteran jazz artists Jon Davis on piano, John Hart on guitars, Ray Parker on bass, Willard Dyson on drums, and special guests Peter Apfelbaum on saxes, flutes, percussion and Abdoulaye Diabate, guest voice on Latz' original "She Was".
Collectively these jazz veterans have played and recorded with Sonny Fortune, Stan Getz, James Moody, Maria Schneider, Randy Brecker, Dizzy Gillespie, Jimmy Cobb, Michael Franks, Rosa Passos, Jon Hendricks, Jimmy Scott, Don Byron, Jaco Pastorius.
