The SLO County Jazz Federation was pleased to present the Natalie Cressman-Ian Faquini Duo in a special concert of straight ahead and Brazilian jazz on Thursday night December 5 at the Unity Concert Hall..
The duo recently received rave reviews at this year’s Monterey Jazz Festival before embarking on a European tour. The San Diego Recorder notes “her trombone is world-class, but her singing voice is another thing entirely, an empathic entity that channels the ages”. Brazilian born guitarist Ian Faquini has performed with a long string of jazz luminaries including Brad Mehldau, Chris Potter and Lee Konitz while Cressman was recently profiled in Downbeat Magazine.
Review by Jazz Fed Member Michael Glaviano
We didn’t know what to expect. Yes, this was billed as a duo playing “straight ahead Brazilian jazz.” And, as we’d expect, one member of the duo was a guitarist and vocalist. But in addition to being a vocalist, the other half of the duo, played trombone. I wondered how that would work.
Now I know; it was divine.
Natalie Cressman’s vocals are simultaneously understated and stunning. She nails every note, and her phrasing is impeccable. Her voice is sweet and clear, with no affectation. Every movement, every gesture felt relaxed.
Ian Faquini’s voice blended beautifully with Cressman’s, and when, on occasion, he sang lead parts, his voice stood on its own. His senses of timing and pitch revealed a deep understanding of Brazilian jazz.
Faquini’s guitar playing was both controlled and strong. He uses a traditional Brazilian approach to guitar: multi-voice, finger style playing on a nylon stringed, classical instrument.
Cressman’s trombone work was remarkable. She uses a round, clear tone, very sonorous and controlled, with never a hint of harshness. Never a hint of marching band or Dixieland. At the break, one of the audience members remarked to me that she made the trombone sound like a human voice. I had to agree. Her solos were strong and they fit perfectly within each piece’s context.
They sang in Portuguese, English, and French. In addition to Brazilian classics like “Desafinado,” they performed American jazz standards such as “You Go To My Head” and “Skylark.” They even played a lovely rendition of the Lennon/McCartney tune “She’s Leaving Home.” All the songs worked.
This duo has turned into something of a phenomenon. They garnered rave reviews at the 2019 Monterey Jazz festival. They just returned from a European tour. The night after the local concert, they played in Nevada City, CA. Then they went to San Francisco, where they performed at two, sold-out shows.
Both Cressman and Faquini are relatively young performers. If the world is fortunate, they’ll be around for decades to come. Their latest album, “Setting Rays of Summer,” was released in April of this year.
Here’s Natalie Cressman’s website: http://nataliecressman.com
Here’s Ian Faquini’s website: http://ianfaquini.com
If you have an opportunity to see these fine musicians, please don’t hesitate!