The Café Society‘s “Change Partners” is a bossa-nova interpretation of the Irving Berlin standard, released on its 88th anniversary. The NYC jazz quintet, led by tenor saxophonist Justin Flynn and vocalist Emily Wade Adams, adds a custom vocal intro/outro, with Flynn’s saxophone evoking the classic Getz/Gilberto tradition. The quintet frequently collaborates with accomplished NYC jazz musicians, including pianists Rick Germanson and Jeremy Manasia, bassist Jim Greene, drummer Joe Strasser, and guitarists Matt Chertkoff and John Merrill.
The track’s soundscape exudes a blissfully smitten sense of yearning, as Emily Wade Adams beckons “won’t you change partners and dance with me?” amidst caresses of tenor sax, lush guitar work, and subdued jazzy rhythms. The balmy touches of Flynn’s saxophone are ravishing throughout, melding beautifully with the swaying acoustics and dreamy rhythms to build a serene bossa-nova atmosphere. “Ask her to sit this one out,” Adams sings with heightened emotion, striving to fall into the arms of a potential beloved even with competition in tow.
A beautiful saxophone solo shines around the two-minute mark, set alongside a more urgent rhythmic pulse. Adams steps back during this section before re-emerging tastefully in the final minute. “I’ll tell the waiter to tell her she’s wanted on the telephone,” her delivery continues to dazzle, culminating in a final desire to change partners on the dance floor, in hopes it will be the last time. Magnetic harmonies and reflective saxophone then move into a wholly satiating finale. The Café Society’s “Change Partners” is a fantastic interpretation of the Irving Berlin jazz standard.
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The track is also featured in the genre-based, best-of Spotify compilation Rainy Days and Late Night Drives.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup.
