*Singer/Songwriter Gina Kronstadt soared through the West Coast music community as a coveted, 47-year veteran, A-List violinist whose resume spans symphonic jazz engagements with Jack Elliott’s The New American Orchestra, film scores with greats from John Williams to Hans Zimmer, and pop music sessions for legends ranging from Burt Bacharach and Barbra Streisand to Earth, Wind & Fire and Quincy Jones.
After being a most-valuable player for significant others, Kronstadt began recording projects of her own in 1997 that are a sophisticated blend of jazz and soul. Her fourth and latest, Feel Something – released under the group name The Kronstadt Collective – is a warmly inspired, open-hearted, 8-song dream.
The listener will discern tastefully dispatched cinematic motifs and haunting overdubbed vocal harmonizations woven through a deeply personal collection of songs exploring love from loyal agape and self-care to aching romance.
The album opens with the title track, “Feel Something,” on which an introspective introduction morphs into a brisk swing at the service of a lyric about the elusive desire to be profoundly moved by…something. It was inspired by the Andy Warhol documentary “The Andy Warhol Diaries” and tips its hat with passionate aplomb.
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With irony known or unknown, Kronstadt next sequences a lovely chill lounge jazz remake of disco legend Sylvester’s 1978 hit “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).” This is a delicious and lovely surprise, hypnotizing in its alternate universe aura for this well-known club classic. Kronstadt additionally closes the album with a prancin’ dance take on the song that is an energetic, strings-punctuated and sexy delight.
Other highlights include “SHINE” (a backbeat meditation on love conquering all and people uniting for peace), “Favorite” (a slammin’ fusion jam dedicated to a best friend), “tenderBox” (a highly emotive ballad), “Don’t Say” (signature Kronstadt lightly reminiscent of Jean-Luc Ponty) and, deepest of all, “i don’t know” (concerning Kronstadt poignantly coming to terms with no longer being able to pursue her life’s passion – playing violin – due to a shoulder ailment).
Supported by a stellar cast of musicians: keyboardist John Beasley, saxophonist/flautist Bob Sheppard, drummer Gary Novak, bassist Gabe Davis, percussionist Felipe Fraga, violinist Lisa Dondlinger, cellist Stefanie Fife and background vocalist Sarah Margaret Huff (on ‘Mighty Real’ only), Gina Kronstadt shines blindingly on Feel Something, brilliantly showcasing her brilliance as a singer, songwriter, arranger and producer.
With any justice, it will find a home in the collections of music lovers seeking top-shelf artistry, then lead them to her past offerings, Walk My Way, Come Over, and October Comes Too Soon. Highly recommended. Get more info, here: https://www.ginakronstadt.com/.
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