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What Critics are Saying
Philip van Vleck
Barbara Sfraga
Under The Moon (A440 Music Group)
"Vocalist Barbara Sfraga has tracked one of the most captivating jazz albums of the year with "Under The Moon." Her vocal work is consistently inventive and sure, and she demonstrates a distinctive feel for how to unlock a song in a new way. Sfraga benefits from a terrific group of backing musicians, and in particular from her interplay with longtime collaborator/bassist Chris Sullivan. Their bass/vocal duet on Bob Dylan's "Every Grain of Sand" is one of the highlights of an album filled with special moments. The title track, written by Angela Bofill, is a dreamy groove that Sfraga settles into with a wonderfully modulated vocal. Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady" receives a swinging treatment, calling forth a sweet bass solo from Sullivan and a Sfraga vocal that is so in the pocket that it is virtually a second instrumental solo. Sfraga's debut for A440 is a major-league jazz record. Racked by RYKO."
JAZZIZ Magazine
Barbara Sfraga and Center Search Quest
Timelessness Frozen in Time (SyncTimiCity)
"Barbara Sfraga has been working with Center Search Quest in some form for the past four years. Here with an expanded lineup -- bass artisan Christopher Dean Sullivan and ‘soundrhythium’ Michael T.A. Thompson were joined two years ago by pianist Mala Waldron and saxophonist Allen Won -- she offers her first recording with the band.
This is also the first CIsD in which Sfraga focuses on original material. It's a bit of a stylistic turn as well. In two previous outings -- her debut, "Oh, What a Thrill" and 2003's "Under the Moon" -- Sfraga offered clever new standards, giving a jazz spin on pop tunes and a contemporary makeover to old standards. In the process, she's gathered a sheaf of glowing reviews and comparisons to fellow 'voicists' (as Sfraga refers to herself) Cassandra Wilson and Patricia Barber.
This time out, the only non-original is the Stevie Wonder-penned Rufus hit, "Tell Me Something Good." And that will tell you a lot about this CD, with its strong strain of soul and lyrical focus on love, light and higher planes."
This time out, the only non-original is the Stevie Wonder-penned Rufus hit, "Tell Me Something Good." And that will tell you a lot about this CD, with its strong strain of soul and lyrical focus on love, light and higher planes."
Though a couple of songs ("Cool Water", "Be There") are cut from straightahead cloth, most tracks seem more Steely Dan than Strayhorn, more RTF than MJQ. That said, these 'jazzicists' are a cohesive group, both in terms of their own interplay and the ease in which they incorporate soul, funk, rap and adventurous modern jazz into the mix. Sfraga's clear voice is always appealing, and the whole set has a soaring energy that is in keeping with its positive message music slant.
Jazz Times
Vox column
Harvey Siders
| Barbara Sfraga and Center Search Quest Timelessness Frozen in Time (SyncTimiCity) "Ms. Sfraga claims her quintet, Center Search Quest, plays “music without borders.” Consider her backgound; church organist to rock-and-roll belter to jazz singer-writer-arranger. She has never met a genre she didn’t like or couldn’t assimilate: In the past, Sfraga has done “Sophisticated Lady” as an up tempo jazz waltz and added reggae to “Stardust.” In Sfraga’s new album, she calls herself a voicist; Michael Thompson is a soundrythmium. Bottom line: Few fusion groups can compete with such jazz-oriented diversity. The trio of singers, scat-savvy Sfraga, Mala Waldron (Mal’s daughter), who doubles on keyboards, and Thompson, doubling on percussion, bark out phrases with the bite of a brass section, and Barbara’s soprano cuts through massed sonorities like a laser. On “Be There,” tenorist Allen Won adds his horn to the vocal blend, creating four-note chords while the feeling of 3-against-4 pervades the track. On the title tune, Sfraga and her fearless voicists swing in 5/4 as Won’s soprano sax weaves soothing obligati. Sfraga’s high, thin voice has no difficulty coping with her own wordiness on “Cool Water”; the lyrics are crystal clear. Kudos to Christopher Sullivan for choosing acoustic bass to get that distinctive growl. Highlight: the give and take of “Hang On, Fly Home,” Sfraga trading fours and eights with Won’s tenor, culminating in astonishing, contrapuntal free scat." |
Jazz Improv Magazine, NY Jazz Guide
Bill Donaldson
Barbara Sfraga and Center Search Quest
Sfraga's total immersion in the exigencies of a song, never breaking away from it until an entire image has been created, is evident on "Love Breaks Free," the foreboding nature of the initial chorus leading inexorably from the modal tension to dynamically soaring release. While many writers have compared Sfraga to Sheila Jordan or Patricia Barber, probably because they read such comparisons in the press releases of Sfraga's publicists, Sfraga's influences appear to be much more varied than that. She's too unpredictable to be compared to Jordan, and she's not cool enough to be a direct comparison to Barber, who rarely raises her voice to a shout. Truth be told, the closest comparison to Sfraga's work on "Timelessness Frozen in Time," in my opinion, would be to some of the recent recordings of Janis Siegel, another singer who understands the importance of lyrics. "Dancing in the Rain," in particular, recalls some of Siegel's work on her recent CD "A Thousand Beautiful Things" (which also uses spoken word, Marion Saunders', as does "Timelessness Frozen in Time"). Even a little bit of Sade is apparent in the final harmony of "Be There."
In the end, Sfraga and Center Search Quest have developed a sound of their own that incorporates a multitude of influences, including the reggae on "I'm in the Light" and quarter-tone Jaipurlike wavering on "Love Breaks Free."
Timelessness Frozen in Time (SyncTimiCity)
Barbara Sfraga is one singer who thinks out of the box.
"Timelessness Frozen in Time" is Sfraga's third CD in eight years, even though she has been performing in New York since the 1980's. As a result, Sfraga has developed somewhat of a cult following. The buzz about her talent is growing, particularly after the release of her last album, "Under the Moon," on which she reinterpreted some classic standards in unconventional ways. The reviews for "Under the Moon" were uniformly positive. In fact, more than several critics raved. With good reason.
The fact that Sfraga refuses to be typecast is consistent with the originality of her recorded output. Sfraga freely chooses the songs she wishes to record, as she draws on her vast interest in all types of music, from jazz to rock to classical to spoken word to folk to R&B to Broadway musicals to raga to reggae. Such freedom works in her favor. For Sfraga is one of those fearless singers who can take any song, no matter how time worn, reconsider its possibilities, apply her own imprint and leave the listener with a previously unthought-of way of regarding the same song.
True to form, Sfraga absolutely refuses to fit into categories on "Timelessness Frozen in Time." If, from the evidence of "Under the Moon," people think Sfraga is, and forever will remain to be, an inventive interpreter of standards, think again. Her newest album consists entirely of original compositions, and they make no attempt to maintain reassuring connections with familiar songs like "Stardust" or "Mood Indigo." Rather, much of the music of "Timelessness Frozen in Time" originated not with Sfraga, but with a group called Center Search Quest, which bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan and drummer Michael T.A. Thompson started in 1990 as a means for boundless expression. Sfraga found Sullivan and Thompson to be kindred spirits when she met them in 2002, and they have been performing -- with just voice, bass and drums -- ever since as opportunities arose. After keyboardist Mala Waldron and saxophonist Allen Won joined Center Search Quest in 2004, Waldron, Sullivan and Thompson developed some music specifically with Sfraga in mind and presented it to her. Sfraga chose the music that inspired her lyrics. Then after Sfraga wrote some of her own songs, "Timelessness Frozen in Time," recorded in five sessions from August 2004 to March 2005, became a reality in search of distribution.
Now that it has been released, "Timelessness Frozen in Time" won't disappoint the listeners who have been impressed with Sfraga's bold interpretations, attention to lyrical meaning and rhythmic playfulness. But "Timelessness Frozen in Time" is no "Under the Moon." Sfraga has embarked upon an entirely new venture, disclosing another side of her personality, another facet of her talent, that wasn't apparent on previous albums. Many of the same characteristics do remain. Her ability to tell a story with swinging humorous rapidity, inspired she says by Lambert Hendricks & Ross, is present on "Cool Water."
"Timelessness Frozen in Time" is Sfraga's third CD in eight years, even though she has been performing in New York since the 1980's. As a result, Sfraga has developed somewhat of a cult following. The buzz about her talent is growing, particularly after the release of her last album, "Under the Moon," on which she reinterpreted some classic standards in unconventional ways. The reviews for "Under the Moon" were uniformly positive. In fact, more than several critics raved. With good reason.
The fact that Sfraga refuses to be typecast is consistent with the originality of her recorded output. Sfraga freely chooses the songs she wishes to record, as she draws on her vast interest in all types of music, from jazz to rock to classical to spoken word to folk to R&B to Broadway musicals to raga to reggae. Such freedom works in her favor. For Sfraga is one of those fearless singers who can take any song, no matter how time worn, reconsider its possibilities, apply her own imprint and leave the listener with a previously unthought-of way of regarding the same song.
True to form, Sfraga absolutely refuses to fit into categories on "Timelessness Frozen in Time." If, from the evidence of "Under the Moon," people think Sfraga is, and forever will remain to be, an inventive interpreter of standards, think again. Her newest album consists entirely of original compositions, and they make no attempt to maintain reassuring connections with familiar songs like "Stardust" or "Mood Indigo." Rather, much of the music of "Timelessness Frozen in Time" originated not with Sfraga, but with a group called Center Search Quest, which bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan and drummer Michael T.A. Thompson started in 1990 as a means for boundless expression. Sfraga found Sullivan and Thompson to be kindred spirits when she met them in 2002, and they have been performing -- with just voice, bass and drums -- ever since as opportunities arose. After keyboardist Mala Waldron and saxophonist Allen Won joined Center Search Quest in 2004, Waldron, Sullivan and Thompson developed some music specifically with Sfraga in mind and presented it to her. Sfraga chose the music that inspired her lyrics. Then after Sfraga wrote some of her own songs, "Timelessness Frozen in Time," recorded in five sessions from August 2004 to March 2005, became a reality in search of distribution.
Now that it has been released, "Timelessness Frozen in Time" won't disappoint the listeners who have been impressed with Sfraga's bold interpretations, attention to lyrical meaning and rhythmic playfulness. But "Timelessness Frozen in Time" is no "Under the Moon." Sfraga has embarked upon an entirely new venture, disclosing another side of her personality, another facet of her talent, that wasn't apparent on previous albums. Many of the same characteristics do remain. Her ability to tell a story with swinging humorous rapidity, inspired she says by Lambert Hendricks & Ross, is present on "Cool Water."
Sfraga's total immersion in the exigencies of a song, never breaking away from it until an entire image has been created, is evident on "Love Breaks Free," the foreboding nature of the initial chorus leading inexorably from the modal tension to dynamically soaring release. While many writers have compared Sfraga to Sheila Jordan or Patricia Barber, probably because they read such comparisons in the press releases of Sfraga's publicists, Sfraga's influences appear to be much more varied than that. She's too unpredictable to be compared to Jordan, and she's not cool enough to be a direct comparison to Barber, who rarely raises her voice to a shout. Truth be told, the closest comparison to Sfraga's work on "Timelessness Frozen in Time," in my opinion, would be to some of the recent recordings of Janis Siegel, another singer who understands the importance of lyrics. "Dancing in the Rain," in particular, recalls some of Siegel's work on her recent CD "A Thousand Beautiful Things" (which also uses spoken word, Marion Saunders', as does "Timelessness Frozen in Time"). Even a little bit of Sade is apparent in the final harmony of "Be There."
In the end, Sfraga and Center Search Quest have developed a sound of their own that incorporates a multitude of influences, including the reggae on "I'm in the Light" and quarter-tone Jaipurlike wavering on "Love Breaks Free."
Presenting a repertoire that's as varied as the experiences of the members of Center Search Quest, "Timelessness Frozen in Time" features yet another aspect of Sfraga's talent that hadn't been entirely apparent from her few previous recordings. The song "Timelessness Frozen in Time" does, however, lope along in 5/4 times, as did "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" on "Under the Moon." Plus, Sfraga's notes occur off the beat as often as not, a stylistic characteristic found on previous recordings
too. "Timelessness Frozen in Time" includes something for everybody, so diverse is its music. The track I keep replaying is "Be There," a waltz built upon a single note and played with tongue-twisting speed, which Sfraga tackles with élan and precise articulation. And so, what's the meaning of the album's title? It lies in lyrics that Sfraga wrote: "Here's to a brand new day / Back to the light of day. / Time has entered Timelessness Frozen in Time." And so, with a paradox that piques the listener's interest, Barbara Sfraga has not only poetically described an entrancing time of day with an arresting phrase, but also she has reinforced the intent of the music. She challenges audiences to listen, but more importantly to think as well."
John Shelton Ivany's Top 21
“Barbara Sfraga, front woman of jazz quintet Center Search Quest, has the voice of an angel. The sort of voice that the leading lady in a musical supposedly has, but we all know better than to believe that the voice exists in real life. But somehow, she has it. Center Search Quest are an incredibly talented group of individuals as well: saxophonist Allen Won blends his upper register solo's with Sfraga's similarly pitched voice, playing off of each other from beginning to end. Every track here is an original, and while playing different sects of jazz per track ("Cool Water" is a hot jazz swing piece, followed by "Tell Me", which is more of a smooth jazz ballad), they all carry a certain style to them. A taste of World Jazz as they call it, this seems to be where the world of jazz is going.”
Los Angeles Times, Critics Choice (preview)
Don Heckman
"The singer likes to call herself a voicist -- presumably Sfraga's way to invest her vocals with an instrumental perspective (a ala saxophonist). But the truth is that she really doesn't have to do anything other than allow her inventive singing to speak for itself. Always eager to bring new life to the most familiar songs, Sfraga has gotten together with the gifted quartet Center Search Quest to develop new material in a style eclectic enough to combine elements of cutting-edge improvisation with R&B-tinged rhythms."
LA Weekly (preview)
Bricks Picks: The Surreal Thing Tasty Jams for Summer Nights
Brick Wahl
"And at La Ve Lee it’s the amazing NYC vocalist Barbara Sfraga and Center Search. Sfraga’s latest, Timelessness Frozen in Time, is a funkier, groovier concoction than her earlier stuff. Still, the opening tune, hook laden and suffused with a Flora Purim feel, extends for a non-radio-friendly 10 minutes. And aside from a terrific take on the Rufus classic “Tell Me Something Good,” the rest of the tunes are just as stretched and spacy. Expect some wildly inventive singing and plenty of improv workouts even if the newer material is distinctly less radical than before. Just wait until she slides into Cole Porter or Dylan. The lady’s a trip, in a vocal field where trippiness is nearly nonexistent. Good band too. Even if she calls her bass player a bass artisan and drummer a soundrhythium."
L.A. CityBeat (preview)
Kirk Silsbee
"Waldron was a pianist who was able to speak volumes with just a few musical lines. His daughter, pianist Mala Waldron, comes to town this weekend with the well-regarded East Coast vocalist Barbara Sfraga. She explores the outer rim of the accepted perimeters of jazz singing. Sfraga eschews repetition, preferring to create in the moment. Her band Center Search Quest—with Waldron, bassist Christopher Dean Sullivan, and drummer Michael T.A. Thompson—is a collective and the music adopts an egalitarian posture. Don’t be surprised to hear more than one voice in the ensemble."
Midwest Record Recap
Barbara Sfraga and Center Search Quest
Timelessness Frozen in Time (SyncTimiCity)
"There's no doubt Sfraga's a jazzbo, but she leaves no doubt that she's about pushing the envelope, so much so that she bills herself as a 'voicist' rather than a vocalist. Cutting edge from start to finish, even when tackling some well known funk, this set of mostly group written originals succeeds in pushing the envelope in the tradition of the best progressive jazz in contemporary times no matter what freak flag it flies under. Anyone who's dug progressive jazz in the past has something new to look forward to."