By Jan van Eck - Van Eck Blues (www.vaneckblues.nl)

CD review Mariëlla Tirotto & the Blues Federation – Dare to stand out

The first time I heard of Mariëlla Tirotto it was regarding her album “Stranger”, a jazz album I had to listen to several times to get used to her style; first thing I noticed was her powerful voice, perfectly fitted for jazz.
Several years later Mariëlla Tirotto and her Blues Federation released the album “Somewhere down the road”, a superb album by which I was surprised to notice how well this jazzy voice fitted in.
Currently, 2011, “Dare to stand out” is released, a bit later than planned, due to family matters; if possible an even better album than the first one, very versatile and with great depth.

Like one can feel the pain in “Marked for life”, one feels shivers listening to “Lover’s dance”, not surprising, considering the song starts with “fingertips – shivers – pearling sweat – moving bodies”, wrapped in sultry music, to me a pearl of a song. “Dare to stand out”, the title track, applies for this album, a gutsy mix of styles, not afraid to fail, just follows your heart. “Black coffee”, a traditional, magnificently interpreted, a bit jazzy vocals, accompanied by a subtle piano, a beautiful bass, flowing drums and an excellent Michel de Kok on blues harp, a song which should be part of the collection of every high-standard restaurant. The two instrumentals, closing this album, “Embrace I and II”, are jewels of which you wonder whether you are listening to Harald Koll or Santana, again with beautiful harp from Michel and fine support by the rhythm section, a number with a South-American touch.

The CD is provide with a beautifully designed booklet, including the lyrics.