Angela Verbrugge – In the Wonder of the Night

Since the release of her debut album “The Night We Couldn’t Not Say Goodbye” in 2019, Angela Verbrugge has followed an ascending trajectory recognized with the “Best Female Vocalist” award from JazzTimes readers (2020) and inclusion in Downbeat’s Top 30 Recordings of the Year (2024).

Building on this illustrious path, her latest album In the Wonder of the Night features a repertoire that seamlessly integrates her own compositions with pieces drawn from the Great American Songbook.

Angela Verbrugge‘s confident phrasing, nuanced sensibility, mastery of pitch, and natural storytelling talent allow her to highlight a melody, imbuing her interpretations with a personal touch.

This is evident in her playful tone on “S’posin,” the standard by Andy Razaf and Paul Denniker, the charm of “Moonlight Becomes You” – “In the Wonder of the Night,” the nostalgic feeling radiating from “Goodbye, Little Dream Goodbye,” and the swaying rhythm of “Reaching for the Moon,” which adds a welcome variety.

In short, we find ourselves in the presence of a top-class performer who has drawn inspiration from the art of great vocalists of the 1940s and 50s, renewing it in a highly personalized manner.

Indeed, she has found in the excellent pianist Ray Gallon an attentive partner, whose tailor-made accompaniment remains a benchmark in its category.

This remarkable album features a dynamic duo.