Gabrielle Cavassa: ‘Diavola’

I first came across the distinctive voice of Gabrielle Cavassa in 2023 on ‘Where Are We’, the Blue Note debut album of sax player Joshua Redman. Her own debut album - 'Diavola' - on the same prestigious label is a delight from the opening ‘Heaven Sighs’ right through to the absolutely stunning ‘La notte dell’addio’ (‘The Night of Farewell’).

Every track seems perfectly chosen to all Cavassa’s voice to shine, whether originals or arrangements. Her voice on the Redman album - where are we - melded beautifully with his sax and now she has found her own ensemble (albeit with a touch of Redman’s tenor).

‘Diavola’ means devil in English, but it is often used in Italian cuisine to refer to something hot and spicy, which absolutely conveys something of the musical quality of this album. The double single of Angelo and Diavola came out in advance of the album. Cassava says: “‘Angelo’ and ‘Diavola’ are a pair because they sort of turn into each other. There are cracks in each of them where a piece of the other can be seen … The whole album reflects Diavola. She is a character but also an idea that holds these two opposing parts.”

Cassava’s voice and Redman’s tenor combine effortlessly with Jeff Parker (guitar), Paul Cornish (piano), Larry Grenadier (bass) and Brian Blade (drums). They seem to reflect the contrast between good and evil within brilliant arrangements and improvisation.

Another early single from Diavola was the beautiful Prisoner of Love, which set the tone for the music and invited the listener in to the whole album, released today.

The piano opening of Could It Be Magic is quasi-classical, relating back to the original, written by Adrienne Anderson and Barry Manilow, inspired by Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in C minor, Opus 28, Number 20. Throughout, the gentle accompaniment does just enough to allow the vocal to soar plaintively. This is not the first time this tune has been performed by Cavassa and Redman, and it suits them both to a tee.

Diavola really is devilishly good and demands repeated listening to enjoy the distinctive vocals and subtle arrangements.

‘Diavola’ by Gabrielle Cavassa is out on Blue Note Records from today