Jocelyn Gould: Portrait of Right Now
Jocelyn Gould Music

Jocelyn Gould's fourth album includes two covers that could be seen as templates for the Canadian jazz guitarist's eight originals. Her torrential treatment of Wes Montgomery's “Jingles” honours him, Grant Green, Joe Pass, Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, and other formidable forebears, while her sultry handling of Rodgers and Hart's “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” speaks to her love of timeless vocal balladry. Whereas her own instrumentals extend the lineage of her guitar-playing precursors into the present day, Gould's "I Haven't Managed to Forget You” and "Spring, It Seems” are so wonderful, they could be mistaken for compositions by any number of American songbook figures. In its balanced presentation of her multi-faceted music, Portrait of Right Now is precisely that, a fabulous account of who this guitarist, composer, bandleader, and singer is at this moment.

Howard Paul, the CEO of Benedetto Guitars, calls her "a leader in the next generation of great mainstream jazz guitarists,” and the words accurately pinpoint her preferred zone of operation. Gould's no Mary Halvorson redefining the instrument's sound, and neither is she some modern-day John McLaughlin lighting up the territory with proto-fusion fire. No, Gould proudly carries on the great tradition associated with Montgomery and Hall with sophisticated voicings and playing marked by taste and finesse. Her like-minded partners—Will Bonness on piano, Curtis Nowosad on drums, and Jared Beckstead-Craan on bass—support her with sterling accompaniment and exemplify in their own playing a solid grasp of the jazz traditions associated with their instruments.

Gould's terrific new-bop style gets a splendid workout in the opening title track, which swings with ardor when Bonness kicks things off with a bright, rousing turn and incites the others to up the swing ante. Gould digs in with a solo that's characteristically lithe, limber, and acrobatic. Solo trade-offs between the two and Nowosad keep the momentum going before a reprise of the theme wraps it up. Taken at a less furious clip, the cheekily titled "You're No Fun at All” warms like a gentle breeze when the leader and Beckstead-Craan deliver unison lines before exchanging succinct statements. Her fleet-fingered treatment of the roller-coaster “Jingles” is but one of many highlights. Bluesy too is "Can I Tell You a Secret?,” which is taken at a deliciously slinky pace and features some of Gould's tastiest chord voicings. A slightly different spell is cast when she doubles the guitar melody in the lightly swinging "You're in There Somewhere” with wordless vocalizing. The hint of Latin driving that song's groove is more overt in "Io's Orbit,” which Gould and Bonness ride like seasoned pros. Her guitar prowess is on glorious display throughout the album, but she also generously shares the spotlight with her bandmates. Bonness is her excellent front-line counterpart, and the others make their presence felt too. Nowosad makes the most of his solo opportunity on the joyful "Early Bird,” for instance, but so too do the pianist and bassist in their turns.

As the vocal songs demonstrate, Gould's voice is her not-so-secret weapon. “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” transfixes when she first accompanies her vocal intro with solo guitar and follows it with the full band. Her singing's enhanced by clarity of articulation and a pure delivery thankfully free of needless embellishment. She isn't, however, averse to elevating a performance with a florid vocal turn or two to make the song her own. Her own romantic serenade "I Haven't Managed to Forget You” is as lovely, perhaps even more so for having come from her own pen. Complementing her full-throated vocal with guitar commentaries, Gould bemoans her inability to douse an old flame and move on. Taking the album out on a delicate note, "Spring, It Seems” wryly reflects on the myriad challenges musicians experience on the road; that the song backs her vocal with piano only attests to the important role of her singing on the release.

November 2024