“The Re-Collection” — Jaana Narsipur Turns Memories Into Jazz Art
Vocalist Jaana Narsipur has released her second album titled, "The Re-Collection". Jaana likes to say she was an “80s kid,” and she has picked some beautiful but somewhat underappreciated songs from artists that shaped her early musical life. First and foremost, Jaana is a wonderful storyteller. She sings with emotion and conviction about the lyrics of the songs she loves. But she doesn’t stop there. Her arranging skills, which she applies to these classic 80s songs, are fresh, creative, and work beautifully in uncovering the stories hidden inside the lyrics.
Jaana has had excellent training that allows her to interpret great songs and lyrics at a very high artistic level. You probably will recognize most of the songs on this album, but I promise you that when you hear Jaana sing them, they will feel new again and bring you a great deal of pleasure.
Jaana studied classical voice and piano and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice and Music History from Northwestern University. In 2013 she completed her Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance at the Aaron Copland School of Music. She also holds a Music Education degree from DePaul University. She has clearly paid her dues preparing for a recording career, and now she is fully ready to show what she can do.
I especially like Jaana’s smoky voice and the phrasing she applies to the songs she loves. Her arranging is a master class for young singers looking to breathe new life into classic material. She understands that interpretation is not about simply recreating a song, but about discovering new emotional colors hidden inside familiar music.
One of the highlights for me was her version of “Here Comes The Rain Again” written by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart and made famous by Eurythmics. Listening to Jaana’s interpretation was like hearing the song for the very first time. She slows the emotional pulse of the piece just enough to let the lyric breathe, and the result is deeply moving.
Another standout track is “Breakout,” the hit associated with Swing Out Sister. Jaana gives the song a sophisticated jazz treatment while still preserving the infectious spirit that made it popular in the first place. It is fresh, stylish, and beautifully sung.
What makes this album work so well is that Jaana never approaches these songs as nostalgia pieces. Instead, she treats them as timeless compositions worthy of reinterpretation. That takes confidence, maturity, and imagination — qualities she clearly possesses in abundance.
This is an album that both jazz fans and lovers of intelligent pop music should enjoy. “The Re-Collection” proves that great songs never grow old when they are placed in the hands of an artist with creativity, taste, and emotional honesty.
Playlist
- “Breakout”
- “In Your Eyes”
- “Time and Tide”
- “Holding Back the Years”
- “Behind Closed Doors”
- “Love and Anger”
- “With or Without You”
- “Here Comes the Rain Again”
- “You Can’t Get What You Want”
- “Sister Moon”
Personnel
- Jaana Narsipur — Vocals, Arrangements
- Wayne Tucker — Trumpet
- Meg Okura — Violin and featured on “Here Comes the Rain Again”
- Sean Nowell — Tenor Sax
- Nicki Adams- Piano, Musical Director
- Marco Panascia- Acoustic and Electric Bass
- Joe Abba- Drums, Djembe, Cajon, Percussion
- Alex Jeun- Trombone
- Hannah Selin- Viola
- Laura Masferrer- Cello
