Something in the Water showcases the radiant talents of Jennifer Hartswick who is a force to be reckoned with on the trumpet and the microphone. While her playing is what originally brought her to national attention in the Trey Anastasio Band, it is her vocals on this solo release that steal the show.
Working with a core group of extremely talented musicians (Nicholas Cassarino – guitar/vocals/production, Christian McBride – bass, Conor Elmes – drums) along with a host of other guests (Rob Marscher – keys, Celisse Henderson backing vox, Roy Agee- trombone) Hartswick’s first release with Mack Avenue Records covers a lot of bases, but still seems to be just scratching the surface of what she can deliver.
The album opens with the most modern jazz-focused effort “Only Time Will Tell” as the funky tune rolls out, prompted by McBride’s bass, before the horns and Hartswick’s scat singing wrap it up. That jazz influence returns for the softer “Innocence” with less success while “Fairytale” is an overly dramatic pop effort, running long and slow but also letting the vocals soar in theatrical fashion.
Things improve when Hartswick and company amp the funky jams on the 90’s R&B-influenced “For You” that bumps with deep grooves and rising vocals before “By The River” transports the listener down to New Orleans with second-line brass leading the marching way, straight to the banks of the muddy Mississippi.
The best overall number here is the Michael Jackson-sounding nouveau funk of “Two Way Mirror” as Harstwick’s lyrics touch political maleficence, Covid isolation, and self-doubt creeping into society all while delivering a full-bodied, dance-laden jam along with a killer trumpet solo to highlight the album.
Putting down the trumpet and focusing on vocals, “Enamored” also needs to be heard as Hartswick traverses all the scales, entering the high diva stratosphere on a straight-ahead love song which she transforms into a singing tour de force. Two covers also get her robust vocal treatment as she pairs with McBride for the blues and bass simplicity of the down-and-out “Guilty” by Randy Newman before closing the album with a restrained, hymn-like version of “When I’m Weary” from Dave Matthews. Jennifer Hartswick has talent for days and displays different facets of her skills throughout Something in the Water via different genres, attitudes, and emotions that shall indeed launch a stellar solo career.
