Release Date: 13 September 2024
Song Count: 7
Rating: 8.0/10
Description:
When I stumbled onto yet another one of my friend's album recommendations and saw "Jazz" in the title, not knowing who Raye was, I was fully expecting a collection of calm, simplistic jazz to put on in the background of a fancy, posh setting in a movie, or something along those lines. However, these expectations were absolutely blown out of the water once I actually gave the album a listen, realising this was something else entirely in practically every sense of the word.
The songs are live recordings of Raye performing at the 2024 Montreux Jazz Festival - as the album's name suggests - and lending her smooth and passionate voice to a set of dramatic, artsy instrumentals made up primarily of live-played instruments, such as brass instruments, electric guitars, and percussion instruments. Some of the tracks are upbeat, catchy classic R&B jams, whilst others take a slower and more melancholy Blues-type direction, showcasing the full extent of how Raye's vocals can elevate any given mood or ambience within a song to its next level.
As a recording to a live held performance, the interludes and segways between the different tracks and their parts are also included, putting Raye's stage presence and charisma right into the spotlight, even in a purely audio format like how I experienced this album. Her self-proclaimed affinity for "dramatic endings" are on full display here, meshing together with her raw vocal talent to create one-of-a-kind atmospheres in the songs - the highlight of this phenomenon occurs during the incredibly high note she reaches towards the end of the track "Mary Jane." after a very long build-up, sending chills down the listener's spine and giving them an immaculate payoff for the track. If I had to give the album one set of criticism, however, it would be in this regard, as some of the interludes and negative spaces within the songs can drag out for a bit longer than is comfortable, though it is understandable that these segments translate much better into a stage performance designed around entertaining a live audience compared to a recorded album.
Live at Montreux Jazz Festival is an extremely solid performance from Raye, a great set of songs, and overall a good album for getting into the genres of Blues and R&B.