tag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:/blogs/latest-news-ac7c0ba5-2f8b-42cc-a699-8bae83ef7b0dLatest News2021-12-14T12:05:43+01:00Nancy Ruthfalsetag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/68403962021-12-14T12:05:43+01:002023-10-16T16:52:25+02:00La Ley Del Embudo now streaming on Amazon Prime <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/8102db973df1b10c476ab271c3216fc48a085776/original/nancy-ruth-llo-rame-in-la-ley-del-embudo.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>The movie 'La Ley Del Embudo' is now streaming on Amazon Prime. The producer, Alfredo Carrasco, kindly made this montage of how my song Llórame was used in the film, in scenes with the film's star Bárbara Hermosilla, along with some clips of the film's opening in Madrid, when I was invited to sing for the cast and crew. Wishing everyone best of luck for next year's GOYAs (Spanish Oscars)!</p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="limDm2zoa3k" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/limDm2zoa3k/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/limDm2zoa3k?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/67232862021-08-21T16:30:49+02:002021-08-21T16:34:13+02:00Turn the Lights Back Down - INK 19 Magazine review<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/b66f4282c40e9942110c96eed2698413fb8ceafe/original/turn-the-lights-back-down.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJjb250ZW50LnNpdGV6b29nbGUuY29tIn0=/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Nancy Ruth is a singer/songwriter hailing from Malaga, Spain. She has recently released a brand new studio single. The new track is titled “Turn the Lights Back Down,” and it feels like a fantastic introduction to her work and vision. </p>
<p>According to Nancy herself, the song actually started out with a very simple arrangement, featuring only vocals and piano. Eventually, she realized that the song had so much potential, and decided to turn it into a full-on production, which is particularly special due to the fact that it was recorded literally all over the world. The track was indeed recorded over at least three different countries, with different collaborators based in Vancouver, as well as New York and Malaga. The song is a soothing, romantic ballad with a soft-spoken sound. </p>
<p>The lyrics are very sweet and endearing, giving the track a warm sound and creating a deeper connection with the artist. The song highlights Nancy’s ability to build a genuine link between herself and her listeners, especially on the grounds of the emotional strength that drives her studio work. </p>
<p>This song is an excellent next chapter in the artist’s ongoing creative journey, and it is definitely a beautiful introduction to what this talented songstress can accomplish, especially when she teams up with fellow talented artists in order to bring her songs to the next level in terms of production. </p>
<p>The sound of this release is utterly beautiful, and there is something a bit old-school to the approach that drives this recording, lending the song an air of authenticity and a vibe of genuine emotional integrity. </p>
<p>The introduction to the song, for example, is already highly expressive, with a sparse, yet rich piano, giving way to the artist’s vocals and passionate delivery. She immediately showcases her vast vocal range, going from whisper-quiet parts to strong and proud vocal hooks that showcase Nancy’s vast singing range and her ability to project powerfully as well as taking a step back with her vocal dynamics, whenever the song calls for singing that isn’t as upfront as she could deliver. Versatility is always a great quality, and Nancy has it in spades! </p>
<p>nancyruth.bandcamp.com</p>
<p><a contents=" (read full review)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://ink19.com/2021/08/magazine/music-reviews/nancy-ruth" target="_blank">Read full review on INK 19 Magazing</a></p>
<p> </p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/66952262021-07-22T17:35:06+02:002021-07-22T17:35:06+02:00Movie News<p>Nancy's compositions "Llórame" and "Sigo Viviendo" are featured on the soundtrack of the new Spanish film "La Ley Del Embudo", in theatres July 23, 2021.<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/104692f0431628a40071bdcdd782020c28d88e92/original/la-ley-poster-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/64740322020-11-10T10:50:01+01:002020-11-10T10:50:54+01:00Jazz Corner Review of 'Turn the Lights Back Down'<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/b66f4282c40e9942110c96eed2698413fb8ceafe/original/turn-the-lights-back-down.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Nancy Ruth's new single "Turn the Lights Back Down" is deeply expressive.</p>
<p>The song starts with a melancholic and deeply expressive piano melody. This elegant introduction immediately relaxes you and draws you into the atmospheric soundscape of the single. </p>
<p>Following this enticing start, Ruth's emotive and sweet voice enters the mix and she effortlessly takes center stage. She ensures that the lyrical composition comes alive with her smooth and stunning vocals. The artist's voice recalls the likes of powerhouse singers such as Grace Potter, Gillian Welch, and Lucinda Williams, to mention but a few leading ladies. Ruth has a similar emotional and authentic quality that these established acts have as you can immediately tell that she genuinely feels the lyrics as she performs them.</p>
<p>On top of this, the background vocals add to the lush and multi-layered arrangement that gives the song an intimate feeling. With all of these elements alongside the moving and stirring string section, it's impossible not to fall in love with Ruth's new release. This track is so intimate that you can almost imagine it being performed by a small troupe of musicians by candlelight. </p>
<p>The production aesthetic on this release is stellar, and the bass, drums, strings, vocals, and piano are all blended together perfectly. However, Ruth's vocals and her poetic lyrics is always the centerpiece of the track.</p>
<p><a contents="READ MORE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.jazzcorner.com/news/display.php?news=9459" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/64740312020-11-10T10:45:57+01:002020-11-10T10:45:57+01:0020 Questions with Nancy Ruth - Tinnitist<p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://tinnitist.com/2020/11/09/20-questions-with-nancy-ruth" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/76a2cbb1b8b6c594159fc940788a84ded6d907a8/original/screen-shot-2020-11-10-at-10-44-47-am.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a>Nancy Ruth first brightened up this site when she shared her romantic single Turn the Lights Back Down back in August. Today, the globe-trotting, high-flying jazz singer-songwriter and pianist illuminates us further by answering my pointless questions. Frankly, I’m amazed she was able to sit still long enough to get through it. But I’m glad she did. I suspect you will be too … </p>
<p>Introduce yourself: Name, age (feel free to lie), home base, other details you’d like to share (height, weight, identifying marks, astrology sign, your choice). <br>My name is Nancy Ruth. I’ve been touring for 35 years so that makes me … 50 or so? I still think I’m 22, so it doesn’t matter. I have two home bases: where I grew up in Victoria, B.C., and Malaga, Spain, where I go to write and put my bands together for European and African tours. If I were a boxer I’d be a 5’5” flyweight, but I’m a music artist, so who cares what I weigh? I’m a Capricorn, and I love goats so I guess that means I was born under the right sign <a contents="READ MORE" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://tinnitist.com/2020/11/09/20-questions-with-nancy-ruth" target="_blank">READ MORE</a></p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/64467672020-10-01T11:54:08+02:002021-11-30T02:40:50+01:00Nancy Ruth Featured in Record World<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/c45dc012611612041ff7ee8ec4823f58b711fbb6/original/nancy-ruth-3-1.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" />World-Jazz Singer-Songwriter Nancy Ruth Urges You to “Turn The Lights Back Down” </p>
<p>Canadian singer/songwriter Nancy Ruth has set forth her fourth single of the year into the world, a sultry ballad straight from her renowned repertoire of jazz, latin, and flamenco influences: “Turn the Lights Back Down”. </p>
<p>“It invites us to take pause during this time of global chaos, and tap into the love that connects us all,” she shares of the inspiration behind the song. </p>
<p>Nancy Ruth, of all people, knows very much about this concept firsthand. “I recorded this song between New York, Vancouver, and Spain, both before and during COVID-19 confinement,” she recalls of the process. “The onset of travel restrictions caught me while I was in Malaga, Spain, which delayed my return to Canada.” </p>
<p>Originally from British Columbia, Nancy Ruth has made the world her stage, travelling to perform or reside in Morocco, Brunei, Polynesia, Panama, Spain, and more following esteemed studies at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Douglas College, and Berklee College of Music.<a contents=" (Read full article)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://recordworldmagazine.com/blog/world-jazz-singer-songwriter-nancy-ruth-urges-you-to-turn-the-lights-back-down/" target="_blank"> (Read full article)</a></p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/64467662020-10-01T11:47:43+02:002020-10-01T11:48:51+02:00Jazz Corner Review of Breathing In Indigo<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/ecb8c99f22d6978f43ecff081dfd3142da237ee8/original/breathing-in-indigo-cover.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Nancy Ruth delivers an elegant, classy, and richly nuanced song with so much to offer in terms of attitude and passion on "Breathing in Indigo." The single immediately kicks off with a warm and melodious classic guitar arrangement, perfectly matching Ruth's deep and sultry vocals. The production is rich and nuanced, with some incredible guitar playing. The synergy between all of the instruments is truly amazing, and there is something quite special about the way in which the arrangement is so minimalist yet so deeply powerful and articulate.<a contents="(read more)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.jazzcorner.com/news/display.php?news=9440" target="_blank">(read more)</a></p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/64324272020-09-13T11:11:40+02:002020-09-13T11:12:47+02:00Nancy Ruth featured in Canada’s most-widely read music site, Tinnitist - feature and interview <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/76f0224a6135e1b184239de000d04640f4841775/original/nancy-ruth-2-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Nancy Ruth puts love in the spotlight with her seductive new single Turn The Lights Back Down — showcasing today on Tinnitist. </p>
<p>“It invites us to take pause during this time of global chaos, and tap into the love that connects us all,” the Canadian jazz singer-songwriter explains. And she knows from global chaos: “I recorded this song between New York, Vancouver, and Spain, both before and during COVID-19 confinement. The onset of travel restrictions caught me while I was in Malaga, Spain, which delayed my return to Canada.” <a contents="Read More" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://tinnitist.com/2020/08/31/nancy-ruth-wants-you-to-turn-the-lights-back-down-in-sultry-new-single/" target="_blank">Read More</a></p>
<p><a contents="Read the article here: " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://tinnitist.com/2020/08/31/nancy-ruth-wants-you-to-turn-the-lights-back-down-in-sultry-new-single/" target="_blank">https://tinnitist.com/2020/08/31/nancy-ruth-wants-you-to-turn-the-lights-back-down-in-sultry-new-single/</a></p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/64070782020-08-11T14:04:56+02:002020-08-11T14:08:24+02:00Sangria Jam is Back!<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="SDVPNRl1l38" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/SDVPNRl1l38/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SDVPNRl1l38?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>As venues start to re-open in Spain, Nancy Ruth's original band Sangria Jam has been re-mounted and is booking again. Playing hits from previous tours and along with new material, it feels great to be playing again.</p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/62661422020-03-30T13:45:06+02:002020-07-04T12:57:59+02:00New Feature in Canadian V13 Magazine - From Spain during quarantine <p><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://v13.net/2020/03/singer-songwriter-nancy-ruth-offers-her-well-rounded-cosmopolitan-take-on-our-current-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/76f0224a6135e1b184239de000d04640f4841775/original/nancy-ruth-2-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></a></p>
<p>New article offering hope for our industry, at this time of global crisis due to the coronavirus. </p>
<p><a contents="Read Here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://v13.net/2020/03/singer-songwriter-nancy-ruth-offers-her-well-rounded-cosmopolitan-take-on-our-current-global-health-crisis/" target="_blank">Read Here</a></p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/61442122020-01-22T12:46:47+01:002020-01-22T12:48:39+01:00Nancy Ruth in Morocco <p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Nan_4P2ArWU" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/Nan_4P2ArWU/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Nan_4P2ArWU?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>After 18 years of travels throughout Morocco, vocalist and composer Nancy Ruth (Canada/ Spain) has created a cross-cultural music project featuring the unique talents of Moroccan musicians, which proves that music has no boundaries. Music unites, regardless of gender, language, religion or culture, making for this effortless synthesis of jazz, flamenco and Moroccan music. </p>
<p>“Just Can’t Let It Go” features the members of ’Nancy Ruth in Morocco’ based in Tangier. </p>
<p>With Nancy Ruth (vocals, piano, composition) Simohamed Chakli (violin, voice), Hamza Bakhati (oud, voice), Khaled Meliani (percussion), Juan Soto (bass, audio production) - also big thanks to Soufiane Maz and Abdou Daghay (production assistants).</p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/60041152019-12-11T20:01:49+01:002019-12-11T20:01:49+01:00Recording in New York's Zampol Studios <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/bb31b6489765fb61c278687cb9ce15ea9da5a4c6/original/nancy-ruth-new-york-studio-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Nancy Ruth spent the month of October 2019 recording new compositions at Zampol Productions in New York: a soundtrack piece featuring members of the New York Philharmonic and arranged by Joe Gianono ( Blood Sweat and Tears, Broadway, etc...), as well as a jazz/ pop ballad featuring John DiMartino on piano. The songs will be released in 2020.</p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/57413442019-05-03T13:26:13+02:002022-09-15T17:02:29+02:00Nancy Ruth featured artist/ composer at the Saint Louis Jazz Festival, Senegal<p>A featured performer/ composer at Africa's biggest jazz festival, Nancy brought her full line-up from Spain. Check out the tour diary - footage from the festival show coming soon. </p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="-3fKkZ9lBd4" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/-3fKkZ9lBd4/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-3fKkZ9lBd4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/53925662018-08-18T14:51:50+02:002019-07-17T12:50:37+02:00Nancy Ruth releases New Single: 'Todo Para Ti' (All For You)<p>Nancy is joined by her band and special guest dancers on this spectacular new video release. Go to<a contents=" Music Page " data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music" target="_blank"> Music Page </a>to stream or buy</p>
<p><span class="font_large"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="CD-4Q0j_Qis" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/CD-4Q0j_Qis/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CD-4Q0j_Qis?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/51704302018-04-08T13:32:34+02:002021-12-03T09:02:37+01:00Nancy Ruth tours Australia <p>After a whirlwind seven week tour, several sold-out dates over eight venues, twenty-two internal flights and no lost luggage, Nancy thanks everyone who helped make this Australian tour of her original compositions a success. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/188814/00d55ea10517c05bc2c7f9c84e7d8d5d1e385714/original/screen-shot-2017-12-31-at-1-11-06-pm.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/51501422018-03-27T16:56:39+02:002020-07-26T01:04:36+02:00Cadence Magazine Feature<p>NANCY RUTH SANGRIA JAM (2016 SELF) The core of music is like a new road open to you; you do not know where it leads but travel it well with respect, for the destination is up to you alone. With memories and love attached to each note, music is the one journal of your trip through life that is allowed to exhume romantic and living emotions with the touch of a single chord. This occurs when the music sheets and arrangements become the second-class citizen and the heart becomes center stage for the artist. Many times this is defined as the “Feel” of the artist but it also through the archives of jazz history known as the “Jam.” </p>
<p>There is no other exciting occurrence on stage than that of a collection or artists just going with the sound and letting it take them to parts unknown. This is the quest Canadian born vocalist Nancy Ruth took and conquered with the weapons of her heart, soul, and memories; newly sharpened, to take the journey towards the Sangria Jam. When I asked Ms. Ruth about her new project and what influenced her, she expressed it in this fashion, “My main inspiration for the Sangria Jam CD was my 15 years of living in Malaga Spain; learning the culture in all its beauty and ‘picaresca’”… Ms. Ruth further elaborated, “I came here alone, with no money, job, contacts or ambitions, other than to find my own voice. I think the lyrics to ‘Temporary Home’ and ‘Beauty in the Ruins’ best describe some of my experiences, as well as ‘Jasmine Tree’…. It’s been a huge adventure, following my instincts, all logic tossed aside.” </p>
<p>Ms. Ruth, the sultry “Flamenco Echo” has her roots firmly embedded in the jazz culture and branches off to the flamenco and Latin stylings with deep insight and innovation. Sangria Jam is encased in originals, with music and lyrics by Ms. Ruth herself, thus expressing her past transformation and relocation to a whole new existence in Spain. Through out time jazz has had many relationships with other styles of music but none so endearing as with flamenco. Ms. Ruth expounds on this with her passion and bringing the two together adding to the historic romance. </p>
<p>In the fourth cut Buleria #1 the beat the ivories project from the start come at you with a fever pitch just igniting the fire in the belly. The first chorus comes in on a cloud but the ignition of the flamenco style just upped the octane of the listeners driven soul with ivories and skins afire. Your passions will be driven by a thousand nails, as you fall into this well constructed vibrant echo called Temporary Home, the ninth cut on this spin. Written by Ms. Ruth, The solo string manipulation of guitarist Luis Robisco is outstanding and then after a well scripted chorus, the sizzling sax solo of Manuel Olmo just drives the cut into a new and exciting dimension which exits the piece with ones heart is still beating full speed. </p>
<p>The nucleus of Sangria Jam is the pulse of Ms. Ruth with her past meeting the present in body and soul. The foundation is her Canadian roots seeded in a little log cabin to the adventure she undertook back to her homeland of Spain. There Ms. Ruth found solace in her spirit and music, which together inspired her melodic and lyrical gifts. The project takes the listener to all compass points of her voyage by blanketing them with her flamenco beat and tucking them away with her lively ballads. Sangria Jam not only designs Ms. Ruth and a global storyteller but also an innovative jazz pedagogue. </p>
<p>-Karl Stober, Cadence, The Independent Journal of Creative Improvised Music </p>
<p>Issue: http://www.cadencejazzmagazine.com/membersonly/admin/assets/CadenceApril2017%20.pdf P. 164</p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/51501402018-03-27T16:52:44+02:002020-07-26T01:07:36+02:00L.A. Jazz Scene feature<p> Nancy Ruth is a talented and powerful singer who was born and raised in Canada. Always a lover of both flamenco music and jazz, she moved to Spain in 2001. On Sangria Jam, she combines together jazz, flamenco and Latin rhythms in a natural way, creating a fresh genre that fits into all three idioms. </p>
<p> Ms. Ruth (who sometimes utilizes overdubbing so as to have multiple voices on the catchier refrains), while generally in the lead, often functions as part of the ensemble. She wrote all 11 selections and her spirited music, while exploring several moods, has a consistently celebratory feel. Some selections have the singer, who also plays piano on four pieces, in a quartet with guitarist Luis Robisco, bassist Juan Soto and percussionist Juan Heredia. There are also significant appearances by Manuel Olmo on soprano, tenor and flute and Victor Vallejo on piano and trumpet with pianist Jean Louis Van Dam being prominent on “Soar.” </p>
<p> Nancy Ruth’s lyrics discuss such topics as the happiness of coming home (“Malaga”), the joy of taking chances (“Soar”), romance (the haunting ballad “Llorame”), and the difficulties of settling down (“Buleria #1”). “Jasmine Tree,” after some beautiful solo flamenco guitar by Luis Robisco (who is a major asset throughout the CD), is rhythmically exciting. “Beauty In The Ruins” features some warm long notes by the singer near its conclusion. “I Once Said I’d Stay” (about taking a chance on giving up everything for love) precedes the most stirring piece, “Temporary Home.” The passionate rhythms, Olmo’s heated soprano and the intense singing make this performance particularly memorable. The exhilarating “Wild Imagination” and the witty “Yellow Veranda” (about food and potential love) conclude the enjoyable set. </p>
<p> All in all, this is an impressive effort by Nancy Ruth that is difficult to categorize as anything but joyful and creative music. </p>
<p>-Scott Yanow, jazz journalist/historian and author of 11 books including The Jazz Singers, The Great Jazz Guitarists and Jazz On Film 1917-76</p>Nancy Ruthtag:www.nancyruth.com,2005:Post/51501392018-03-27T16:50:33+02:002021-11-30T02:41:42+01:00 Australian Jazz Feature<p>Nancy Ruth does not waste any time. Even when she’s at her most relaxed, introvert state, she sings with a particular kind of urgency, making sure that her audience does not miss out on her life-affirming message. With every little breath she takes – barely audible as it may be – before she delivers a typically impeccable musical phrase, she seems to be sucking the marrow out of life, making each song into a celebration of being and of passionately embracing the whole range of human emotions and experience. </p>
<p>This may have to do with her personal journey from her native Canada to Spain and her adopted hometown, Malaga. To say that the bright Spanish sun and the Mediterranean sea breeze have affected her approach to music-making would be an understatement. </p>
<p>A classically trained pianist, and a singer of impressive vocal range, she cut her teeth as a performer singing in rock bands in Canada, before delving into jazz, thus finding her voice as a singer and pianist with a penchant for lyricism, a natural sense of swing and a love for latin rhythms. Her 2004 album, ‘It’s Got to Be Love’ found her singing a series of well-known and beloved standards, with a deceptive breeziness, delivering the lyrics as if every word was part of her intimate diary. Once in Malaga, she used the same approach to blend jazz with flamenco, in a vivid celebration of life. </p>
<p>There is a gem of a video in Nancy Ruth’s Youtube channel, in which the singer makes a home visit to a friend, who cooks for her a traditional paella. The video is a step-by-step tutorial on the dish, offering much more than a recipe; it is a celebration of each ingredient and its significance as it blends with the others to create a unique taste; it is also a celebration of friendship and hospitality, of people coming together to connect through a feast. This video does not just offer rare insight into Spanish culture, but it is a perfect allegory of Nancy Ruth’s own music-making, of the way she combines different elements – her classical training, her dramatic flair, her adventurous spirit, her sense of ‘duende’ – to create a sound where genres such as pop, jazz, flamenco and latin co-exist and dissolve into each other. In the end, what she has created, is a genre tailor-made to best allow her narrate her stories, reflecting her own personal journey. </p>
<p>Her latest venture, ‘Sangria Jam’, captures Nancy Ruth at her best. In a way, the album is a status update for her, a collection of songs describing her life in Malaga, how she absorbs the energy of the place to return it to the community through her music. It is also a perfect example of the way she balances two traditions – jazz and flamenco – passing them both through a pop prism, without worrying to adhere too much to any of them. The only thing she cares about, is to stay true to her own passion – and that oozes out of every song. </p>
<p>- Nikos Fotakis </p>
<p>Link to review: http://australianjazz.net/2018/02/nancy-ruth-wants-taste-sangria-jam/</p>Nancy Ruth