Music To Dream To
Gemma Sherry
Gemma Sherry Bandcamp
★★★★
Written by Barry O’Sullivan
Gemma Sherry is not allowing a pandemic to get in the way of her recording career. The Australian-born USA-based vocalist has released three albums in the last twelve months. After headlining at the Los Angelos Brazilian Jazz Festival, she has released a Bossa Nova album with six South American songs to delight her many fans worldwide. Included are Latin favourites such as Joāo Gilberto’s Bim Bom, a song from his first Bossa album recorded in 1959. Also on the album is The Coffee Song, a hit for Frank Sinatra in 1946, and Chove Chuva, a song that Sergio Mendes and Brazil ‘66 featured on their second album Equinox.
This album is pure nostalgia with a Latin twist. Sherry and her band swing the samba-like beat in the style of the music that was first popularised by musicians in Rio de Janeiro, many of whom were influenced by American jazz. In Brazil, the word bossa is old-fashioned slang for something done with a particular charm and natural flair, and that is true of the style of the music delivered here. Paul Bollenback’s guitar work is exemplary when paired with just the vocals of Sherry who has the charm and the talent to do them justice. It may well be the music you need to dream of those hot Brazilian nights in the depths of winter.