Jazz Country

Free-spirited, genre-defying singer Amy Cervini – praised as “an honest, self-assured and honey-dripping presence” by All Music Guide – continues to broaden the idea of what a jazz singer can be with her fourth album, Jazz Country. Jazz Country is a collection of “North Americana” that finds the Toronto-bred, New York-based singer in league with guitarist Jesse Lewis and bassist Matt Aronoff, as well as such guests as jazz clarinet superstar Anat Cohen and beloved theatrical singer-songwriter Nellie McKay, among others. Cervini and company perform country, folk and pop tunes with a sense of storytelling, melody and atmosphere to the fore. Jazz Country features songs by the likes of Hank Williams (“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”) and Johnny Cash (“I Still Miss Someone”), Neil Young (“After the Gold Rush”) and Carrie Underwood (“Before He Cheats”). There are also kindred-spirit originals, inspired novelties and irresistible versions of evergreens, including “Blue Moon,” “Smile” and the theme from Baghdad Café, “Calling You.” Time Out New York has praised Cervini’s work for “tearing down boundaries between old and new jazz styles, rock, pop, country and more – a reminder of Duke Ellington’s old axiom that there’s just two kinds of music, good and bad.”