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“There’s so much imagery in the lyrics. I think a fun way to listen to the record would be to go for a walk and let the songs play out like a little movie in your mind.”
– Rachael Price
Defining the sharp lyrical style of Rachael & Vilray’s vocal jazz music, NPR called it “Tin Pan Alley meets the Lower East Side in a smoky bar.” Rich with humor, clever phrasing and careful craft, songwriter/vocalist Vilray Bolles and vocalist Rachael Price (of the sunny and soulful Lake Street Dive) create memorable city-life tunes that feel ready to reside in the Great American Songbook. The distinction? R&V’s musical storytelling transcends nostalgia with modern wit and relatability, along with tight jazz interplay and inventive solos.
On their new album, “West of Broadway,” the directional title points all the way to the Pacific Ocean like a sort of NYC-LA intersection. Mood imbued with West Coast cool jazz and top-call players like saxman Steve Wilson (formerly of Chick Corea’s Origin sextet), drummer John Riley (Miles, Dizzy), trombonist Adam Dotson (Jon Batiste), and the brilliant Warren Wolf on vibraphone, the album swings and shines, lifted by Rachael’s pitch-perfect delivery and the bourbon & honey flavor of the way they sing together. Favorite tracks include the verse-trading opener “Forever Never Lasts,” about a couple’s inability to stay divorced; the delightfully warped “Is It Jim?”; and the grumpy-fun “Off Broadway,” with vocal help from Stephen Colbert.
