Ran Blake & Christine Correa: Out of the Shadows

Jazz heavyweights Ran Blake and Christine Correa have collaborated in the past, and they will likely record together again in the future since they sound so comfortable together — too comfortable, perhaps. Out of the Shadows, their latest piano/vocal endeavor together, is a narcoleptic journey through old standards that struggle to show a pulse. There are moments that can maybe capture one’s attention, like when Blake takes some harmonic liberties on “The Thrill Is Gone”. But too often the variety of sound is restricted by Correa’s dramatic rubato and exaggerated vowels. An a cappella version of “Una Matica De Ruda” finds her using her vocal histrionics to no discernable end, while the following track, “Goodbye”, shows Blake going it alone and not really discovering any magic along the way. All around, the album is short on magic, and probably won’t reshape what you think of vocal and piano jazz duets.