Jazz is known for being an unpredictable genre, rife with twists and improvisation. Heather Bambrick makes a home for herself here, simultaneously fitting and breaking the mold. Her smooth voice is everything you’d want and expect out of a self-respecting jazz singer. However, Heath Bambrick is anything but typical.
Fine State is a melting pot, drawing inspiration from countless sources. Despite its eclectic background, Bambrick has managed to tie it all together into a cohesive final result. Regardless of the style she’s working with, her vocals remain a powerful constant and the driving force of the album.
Bambrick doesn’t shy away from showcasing her moral values on this album. She opens with her own rendition of “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught,” a once controversial show-tune from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific.” The song preaches tolerance and denounces hate, and originally caused quite a cultural stir. One of the first singles off the album is “Right To Love,” a Canadian classic written by Gene Lees. Originally inspired by the fight for racial equality, it’s now evolved to be an anthem for the LGTBQ community.
“It was particularly important for me to record this song during this 50th anniversary year of the Stonewall Riots,” says Bambrick. “Even after all this time, the message here remains simple – love is love!”
Bambrick’s passion for the cause certainly shines through. Her vocals range from delicate to shattering. She switches between the two effortlessly. The earnesty of it is enough to make anyone cry on its own, but Adrean Farrugia on the piano seriously takes it to the next level. He, along with Michael Shand and Ben Whittman, assist Bambrick on arrangements throughout the album. This track is only one of several successes the power team has given us.
While many of the song choices have Bambrick spinning traditional tunes into something more fresh, there’s a fair share of fun choices to be heard. The first moment of hearing the iconic drum arrangement at the beginning of the cover of Phil Collins’ “I Don’t Care Anymore” is an exciting one indeed. Bambrick boasts the power of her voice here, having no trouble keeping up with the intense backing.
“Wave Over Wave” is perhaps the most interesting choice on the album. Popularized by Great Big Sea and originally written by Jim Payne, the track ventures far from jazz territory. The foray into folk is a sea shanty heavily inspired by the coasts of Newfoundland, which isn’t surprising material considering Bambrick’s roots. It’s something she touches a lot on, like in her self-proclaimed love song to her home province in “Homeland”.
There’s plenty to be discovered on this album, which is part of what makes it so fun. Each track holds so much history. Sometimes that’s culturally, or personally when it comes to Bambrick’s original tracks such as “Off My List.” It makes the album worth the second or even third listen, as you’ll certainly find new things to love about it each time.