Recording of the Week,Ineza with Alex Webb & The Copasetics - Women's Words - Sisters' Stories

The project is the brainchild of Alex Webb, the talented pianist, composer, and musical director who has a knack for spotlighting some of the UK’s standout jazz vocalists, such as Vimala Rowe, Cherise, and Jo Harrop. With a genuine love for swing and a strong connection to the Great American Songbook, Webb captures the essence of classic acoustic jazz, allowing the music to feel both familiar and refreshingly new. The Copasetics features a dynamic female lineup of some of the most promising young musicians in the London jazz scene, including trombonist Rosie Turton, the talented tenor saxophonist Maddy Coombs, and bassist Charlie Pyne, whose recent release Nature is a Mother received significant praise. Canadian drummer Katie Patterson adds her rhythmic finesse to the mix, and the J.A.M. String Collective, who contribute some wonderful textures, comprises Annalise Lam (violin), Julia Dos Reis (viola) and Miranda Lewis-Brown (cello). 

For anyone steeped in jazz’s traditions and nuances, Women's Words - Sisters' Stories hits with a sense of respect for the form. Ineza’s voice is front and centre, yet Webb’s arrangements and the Copasetics’ careful instrumentation do not merely sit in the background; they actively contribute to the narrative. There’s something understated yet intentional in every beat, every phrase, and Webb's sensitivity to space is key here - he arranges each track to allow Ineza’s voice to soar, but he also knows exactly when to pull back and let the rhythm section fill in, building a textured soundscape that enhances her delivery without crowding it. You can hear the influence of classic jazz vocalists - think Carmen McRae’s intensity or Abbey Lincoln’s expressive depth - but Ineza avoids imitation. Her style is fresh, driven more by storytelling than by traditional vocal runs, and the band follows her lead with a responsiveness that is downright symbiotic. There’s a tangible dialogue here that deepens with each listen. There are plenty of driving numbers as well, coming straight out of the gate with the one-two punch of openers ‘Don’t Waste Your Time’ and ‘Free Your Mind’.  

Production-wise, Women's Words - Sisters' Stories delivers on all fronts. This is not an album concerned with excess or showiness. The production restraint enhances the album's intimate storytelling approach, allowing each instrument, each vocal inflection, to stand alone and resonate. This choice gives the album a subtle power; it’s an open space where each musician’s choices feel deliberate. On 'Good Morning Heartache' the minimalist rhythm section serves as the quiet bedrock for a smoldering, introspective exploration of inner strength. Ineza's vocal delivery, almost conversational at points, is surrounded by just enough instrumentation to keep the listener locked in, her voice like an ember glowing quietly in the dark. On the gorgeous 'Tell Me More' Ineza's inflections occassionaly reminded me of Amy Winehouse in her most heart breaking moments. Abbey Lincoln's 'Throw it Away' acts as a fitting parting shot, the J.A.M. String Collective cushioning the arrangement impeccably.

This is an album that doesn’t aim to dazzle in conventional ways; instead, it trusts the listener to engage deeply, to listen closely, and to appreciate jazz as a vehicle for human connection and understanding. It’s a resonant work, full of understated beauty.