Sydney, Australia-based multi-genre singer-songwriter Arnab Sengupta recently dropped his third album, Leap of Faith.
Arnab’s first two albums, Refrain and Inadvertently, were largely influenced by his passion for jazz. On Leap of Faith, his musical palette expands to include elements of jazz, blues, world, classical, and experimental.
He explains, “For ‘Leap of Faith’ I wanted to try out some new styles and sounds. The creative ideas for the songs in this album have spanned over 5 years, which entailed my migration to Australia, my experiences of setting up life in a new environment, my learning and regular practice of Vipassana meditation, and dedicating my musical direction to learning and practicing jazz piano with my teacher from New York. So, this album did mark a ‘Leap of Faith’ in many ways. The songs in this album are more versatile and there is a certain stylistic variety which shines through, though the words are still about my pursuit of the final frontier – the ultimate truth and meaning of Life.”
Encompassing eight tracks, Leap of Faith begins with “Face in the Crowd,” which opens on cool savors of contemporary jazz. Syncopated percussion and a fat, rumbling bassline give the tune a fusion-jazz-like feel as Anshu Jha’s lush voice give the lyrics carefree timbres. Horns imbue the tune with luscious luminous accents.
From a purely subjective viewpoint, highlights include “This Way,” pervaded by ripples of funky jazz flavors and hints of blues. Dazzling guitar licks fill the melody with shimmering tones, while a soaring saxophone infuses the song with luxurious assertive coloration.
The title track features a gleaming intro, followed by Arnab’s deliciously high tenor accompanied by radiant harmonies. Traces of pop, blues, and jazz infuse the harmonics with bright hues and an optimistic mood.
The final track, “Set in Stone,” a personal favorite, rolls out on deluxe jazz textures, underscored by a fat, walking bassline and syncopated drums. A tight and right guitar solo infuses the tune with glistening tones. As the song ends, Arnab delivers scrumptious scatting vocals.
With Leap of Faith, Arnab Sengupta delivers smooth, alluring jazz textures, along with tints of blues, pop, and world music with soul.
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