The Nearness Of You [CD]

Lili Maljic makes a striking debut with The Nearness of You, reimagining beloved jazz standards with elegance, depth, and daring artistry. This highly anticipated album features ten carefully selected classics, each reinterpreted with distinctive arrangements that blend tradition with personal expression. Backed by a powerhouse quartet featuring Jim Rotondi, Oliver Kent, Milos Colovic, and Mario Gonzi, Lili brings a fresh, dynamic voice to every track.

The album opens with a lush bossa nova take on "The Shadow of Your Smile," with Rotondi's exquisite trumpet introduction setting a romantic and intimate tone. "Easy to Love" swings with gentle confidence, showcasing Lili's playful phrasing and rhythmic elegance. "Never Let Me Go" is a heartfelt ballad, shaped by tender dynamics and open phrasing, highlighting Lili's vocal control and emotional restraint.

Rotondi's arrangement of "The Touch of Your Lips" brings a mid-tempo swing feel, framed by lush horn colors and a clever introduction. Lili then takes on "The Nearness of You," transforming the classic ballad into a haunting and fresh interpretation with a 7/8 rhythm, infused with Balkan spirit and rhythmic richness.

This Can't Be Love is a breezy, intimate duo with bass, highlighting the joy and lightness in Lili's voice. "You Go to My Head," another Rotondi arrangement, underscores the melancholic beauty of the melody with a modern, harmonically rich approach. "The Song Is You" bursts with high-energy swing, featuring a dramatic duo introduction between voice and drums before the full band joins in.

The penultimate track, "I Didn't Know About You," returns to ballad territory--soulful and introspective, with Lili's voice floating gently over a warm harmonic bed. The album closes with a surprise: a stripped-down ballad version of "That Old Black Magic," traditionally a brassy swinger. Lili slows the song down to expose its lyrical vulnerability, creating a bold and thoughtful finale to an already compelling debut.