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Irene Jalenti

Born into a family of illustrious Italian musicians, Irene Jalenti has followed a singular creative path as a jazz vocalist, songwriter and arranger drawing on an international array of kindred musical currents. Possessing a strikingly rich cello-like tone, she’s equally impressive improvising a scat solo or interpreting a song with soulful intensity (across five languages). While her sound is often compared to international legends like Nina Simone, Mercedes Sosa, and Beth Carvalho, her phrasing, repertoire and poetic sensibility are all her own. A creative force on Baltimore’s jazz scene since 2010, Jalenti turned the pandemic-induced hiatus into artist retreat, composing and arranging a gorgeous set of material for her 2021 debut album Dawn featuring guest stars Sean Jones (trumpet and flugelhorn) and Warren Wolf (vibraphone).

Afro Blue: We Shall Overcome

Read "We Shall Overcome" reviewed by Jack Bowers

by Jack Bowers
April 20, 2020

The vocal group Afro Blue was founded (in 2002) by its director, Connaitre Miller, Jazz Voice Coordinator at Howard University in Washington, DC. Miller's approach to vocal jazz is patterned after that of such celebrated groups as Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, the Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, a blueprint that has served Afro Blue well and led to numerous awards, locally and nationally, recognizing its excellence as a group and the primacy of its three previous recordings from 2013-15. We ...

Recording

Singer-Composer Irene Jalenti Makes A Confident Self-Introduction On 'Dawn,' Releasing Oct. 29 On Antidote Sounds

Source: Terri Hinte Publicity
September 1, 2021

Vocalist and composer Irene Jalenti claims a place in the jazz world for her vast musical talents on her long-awaited debut album, Dawn, set for an October 29 release on Antidote Sounds. The album collects four of Jalenti’s scintillating originals along with six smartly chosen covers and a stunning array of Baltimore’s finest instrumentalists, including guest appearances by two international stars: trumpeter Sean Jones and vibraphonist Warren Wolf. Although Dawn is her first recording, Jalenti has for over a decade ...
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"Jalenti has a deep, complex, compelling voice and the emotional authenticity that only comes with life experience (...) the best moments on Dawn are songs you thought you knew until you hear Jalenti sing them." (Thomas Conrad, JazzTimes Magazine)

“Her warmth and strong stage presence allow her to communicate the essence, power and importance of jazz” Bob Cranshaw

"(She adds) an extraordinary, heartbreaking sheen to the instruments - an inspiring touch." Bob Doerschuk (Downbeat)

"It's rare to find an Italian singer unknown to us (the outstanding Irene Jalenti) who's able to convey with such strength and intensity." Angelo Leonardi (All About Jazz Italia)