Hotel Souza (Ambr)

There is no doubt that Karen Souza is poised to become recognized as one of the great new voices of jazz today. After the success of her remarkable debut album, Essentials, Karen decided to embark on a songwriting journey that took almost two years and led her far from her home in Buenos Aires to Los Angeles, where she joined with U.S. producer Joel McNeely. Famous for his work with immortal artists such as Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Al Green and Jaco Pastorius, McNeely has provided the arrangements with a sound that is both classic and modern a combination that is highly valued in this day and age. Karen's voice, intimate and sensuous as always, floats between clouds of strings and winds and creates an atmosphere that can only be described as vintage. One of the few versions found on this artist album is a very special rendition of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" where Karen had the great fortune of performing with several musicians from Marvin's original band. Recorded at The Factory and on in the Century 21 studios in LA, this is an album that showcases Karen as an multifaceted artist about to embark on an exciting career. Hotel Souza is one of the most anticipated albums of the season.