Like Water

Album Review

Anne Drummond has gained her greatest exposure by working and recording with Kenny Barron and Stefon Harris and the flutist is looking to expand her horizons with her first full CD as a leader. Drummond is more conservative than most jazz musicians who focus on flute, taking an understated, lyrical approach rather than focusing on fast runs and overblowing. Her focus is on Brazilian music, while she utilizes two members of Trio da Paz (bassist Nilson Matta and percussionist Duduka Da Fonseca. Pianist Klaus Mueller contributed the snappy arrangement of "Aquelas Coisas Todas," though Drummond is a bit buried in the mix near the beginning of the track. Matta penned the infectious "Bossa for Copacabana," in which Drummond delivers her best solo of the date. She also penned several originals for the session, including the elegant, lovely bossa nova "Like Water," the sauntering and relaxing "Lazy Afternoon" (which is buoyed by Mueller's solo), plus the playful ballad Spring, which has a sporadic rainfall incorporated throughout the piece. With this admirable effort, Anne Drummond comes across as a talented instrumentalist and composer who is willing to share the spotlight with her fellow musicians, good advice for any up-and-coming jazz musician., Rovi