Andromeda Turre FROM THE EARTH

July 10, 2024

ANDROMEDA TURRE

FROM THE EARTH

Starbilt Records

Andromeda Turre, voice/piano/crystal bowls/bell tree/composer/arranger/conductor; Steve Turre, trombone/shells; Elew, piano; Richie Goods, electric & acoustic bass; Gene Lake, drums; Chien Chien Lu, marimba/vibraphone; Chelsea Baratz, Saxophone/EWI; Jacquelene Acevedo, percussion; Riza Printup, harp; Betty Neals, poetry; Harold E. Smith, digeridoo; M’elle, background vocals & choir; Akua Dixon, Lulu Fontan, Catherine Asaad & Terrell Foster-James, choir.

The background sound of the digeridoo played by Harold E. Smith growls beneath the spoken word of Andromeda Turre and opens this album. She talks about celebrating the new world as one nation.

“This cake, a batter of sounds that taste like colors and colors that sing. … Breathe and lean on nature. That teaches the way,” Turre advises.

Turre offers us environmental activism and unique original music with spoken word. After Turre introduces the melody of her song titled “Geosphere” Chien Chien Lu offers a stunning vibraphone solo. Ms. Turre shares a spoken word perspective to introduce some of her various songs and messages. She hopes these snippets of her beliefs and perspectives will find open ears willing to hear and consider her points of view. Connectivity is Andromeda Turre’s goal. Unity and togetherness is the message she speaks about on track #3 titled “Grandmother’s Permission.” This part of the musical track includes the voice of M’elle, singing softly, but with power, like an ancient chant as background to Turre’s message.

Andromeda Turre has been raised at the foot of master musicians, not only her mother and father, (Steve Turre and her mother, Akua Dixon) but icons like Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach. Her music and her message intertwine to present a beautiful and important package of messaging. Although some of the music stepped outside the genre of jazz, it is still impactful. Her pianist, Elew is amazing and shows his vivacious talent on Turre’s “Earth Waltz,” an original composition, one of fourteen. Elew is celebrated for his unconventional and physical playing style. Her admiration and connection to John Coltrane shows up during this song. You hear it in the ensemble’s arrangement. Andromeda also explores her full vocal range, hitting high notes precisely and with credible emotion.

In 2022, during a cold December trip to Iceland, Andromeda Turre had an epiphany. Some of it is described in these songs. Overwhelmed by Earth, sky, sea, and ice, she was inspired to write “From the Earth.”

“Experiencing the aurora borealis dancing in the sky. The violence of sea waves crashing, lava birthing new ground, and the marvel of being engulfed within a glacier all revealed a profound connection with the earth,” Andromeda explained the inspiration for her album.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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