MIRA CHOQUETTE

HIEN ENCORE

Independent Label

Mira Choquette, vocals; Samvel Gasparyan, piano; Dave Geodakyan, double bass; Arman Mnatsakanyan, drums; David Tadevosyan, trumpet; Khachatur Khachatryan, tenor saxophone; Karen Sargsyan, trombone.

The opening tune transports me to a piano bar setting, just a grand piano player and a vocalist.  Mira Choquette blends comfortably with pianist Samvel Gasparyan as they present a duo concert.  She is singing the Tadd Dameron and Carl Sigman song, “If You Could See Me Now” with emotional connection and sincerity.

Choquette is a multi-lingual vocalist.  She has teamed with Armenian jazz pianist Gasparyan to express a number of standard jazz tunes.  On Track #2, she sings in French the Michel Legrand and Jacques Demy tune, “Sur Les Quais de Cherbourg.”  This time they are joined by upright bassist, Dave Geodakyan. They follow this with Thelonious Monk’s tune, with Jon Hendricks’ lyrics called, “Reflections.”  Mira Choquette is compelling with her sincerity.  When she sings, I believe her.

These are Armenian musicians, based in the city of Yerevan. They exemplify how jazz crosses cultures and continents. On “Just Friends” Ms. Choquette begins the tune as a quiet ballad with piano accompaniment. When the bass enters, walking briskly, they pick up the tempo and swing the tune. Mira Choquette is an accomplished and impressive scat singer on this tune, with David Tadevosyan adding his trumpet brilliance during this arrangement. They incorporate a horn section into the tune and Choquette sings along with the horn line, harmonizing and scatting.  It’s a lovely rendition of this popular song.

Choquette sings “Contigo Aprendi” in Spanish.  After releasing three prior albums, she had intended this to be a duo project.  But, as it evolved, her direction widened. Mira Choquette is a singer/songwriter with mad jazz vocal chops. She is based in Montreal, Canada. I asked her how she got hooked up with these wonderful Armenian musicians.

“At the last minute of a Dubai performance in 2023, my pianist dropped out of the gig. The booking agent sent me Samvel Gasparyan. Even though we only had one rehearsal, I was absolutely at ease with Sam’s playing, and decided right then and there, I had found the perfect musician for my duo album project. He suggested we record it in his country. I agreed.

“Recording in Armenia with these amazing players was a great experience. The duo premise expanded. The wet weather, the culture and the atmosphere lent itself to melancholy songs and resulted in what I like to call a jazz album for grownups,” she told me.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

Hier Encore by Mira Choquette

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