CD review by Adam Wujtewicz
The Evolution of Love, the new album from
Josi Davis, is a
marathon run through from the catalog of Americana music styles. Transitioning from Jazz, Blues, Country, Soul,
Roots Rock N’ Roll - back and forth - and blending all of them together,
Josi’s using the whole color palette on this one. While this approach might seem haphazard, the
order in which the songs are arranged smooths out all of the sharp corners
that can be created by putting that many different genres on one record.
While Josi and her splendid vocal range take
center stage there is a very accomplished group of musicians behind her,
including: John Van Ness, Rufus “baby grand” Davis, Carl Franklin and William
Light to name a few. Recorded at Carl
Franklin’s
PWOP Studios here in New London, there is sheen to the production but still a very
natural and live tone to
The Evolution of Love. The vocals and drums sound like the rooms
they were recorded in and the mix is one you’d expect more from a professional
live show than a record.
While I’d say that
the album on a whole is pretty mellow and introspective my personal favorite
moments are the more upbeat and jumpy.
The slide guitar soaked “Another Saturday Night” and “Ivy Grows” are
great dance numbers a real showcase for the musicianship on the album. So if you are into taking a musical journey
across the Americana landscape,
The Evolution of Love by Josi Davis
should be your roadmap.
