Jazz pop is something of a fluid category, where music critics try to throw in anything that has musical sophistication but can appeal to a wider audience and they can’t actually fit it anywhere else.
It could be something that brings in elements of pop, Brazilian Bossa Nova, straightforward jazz as such, or even roots music.
In many ways, the above description in many ways describes Twist Run Road, the most recent album by San Francisco singer/songwriter Elaine Lucia.
Lucia made a name for herself as a jazz vocalist, owing quite a bit to her classically-trained vocal capabilities. Yet, on this album comprised of her self-penned songs, she proves that she’s not only a great vocalist but also an excellent songwriter and guitarist.
Owing a bit to her Bossa Nova inspirations and often recalling the jazz/folk often tied to late great Terry Callier, Lucia is able to actually breathe fresh air into something that should usually fall into the often bland smooth jazz category.
Her songwriting is mature and can easily be labeled as sophisticated, and she is able to adapt her vocals to any melody with ease and aplomb. At the same time, the quality of her acoustic guitar playing is accentuated by the arrangements by renowned Brazilian composer Jasnam Daya Singh.
So, how could you ‘pigeonhole’ Lucia’s music on this album? Possibly as smooth jazz with a substance.
