Escondida

Intimate and uplifting, Jolie Holland’s debut studio release, Escondida, is a breath of fresh air for fans of great singer-songwriters. Combining blues, folk, jazz, and pop in totally inventive ways, Escondida marks the emergence of a unique and important new voice in the music scene. The opening track "Sascha" is a perfect distillation of her vision: piedmont blues guitar (her own picking), mixed with brushed jazz drums beneath elastic vocals that hint at classic singers like Billie Holliday. Her tone is pure and sensual; she then breaks into a wordless phrase that sounds like a horn followed by a long, lyrical trumpet solo. The overall sound is natural and timeless. Each song thereafter is full of gems and surprises, both musical and lyrical.