Ermelinda Cuellar, Under a Lavender Sky Review

by Constance Tucker

On Under a Lavender Sky, Texan-Peruvian vocalist Ermelinda Cuellar masterfully bridges her dual cultural heritage, blending jazz sophistication with authentic Afro-Peruvian rhythmic expressions. Cuellar’s evocative voice and attention to rhythmic detail bring to life a narrative inspired by her mother’s courageous journey from Peru to Texas. Arranged by Horace Alexander Young, the album’s lush twelvetet settings vividly showcase Cuellar’s resonance and singing.

Cuellar opens the album with an expressive interpretation of the jazz classic “Poinciana,” her shaping each phrase comes from nuanced dynamics and embellishments of key notes. The ensemble supports her gracefully, with guitar, bass, and percussion crafting rhythmic textures that deftly blend African, Indigenous, and Spanish influences into the jazz idiom.

The ensemble’s sophisticated handling of Clare Fischer’s “Morning” demonstrates exceptional artistry. Young’s creative arrangement maintains Fischer’s distinctive chordal voice-leading within a vibrant Afro-Peruvian rhythmic framework. Cuellar’s vocal performance skillfully balances structured melodic phrases with spontaneous improvisations, highlighting her fluency and emotional depth.

In the traditional “Muñeca Rota,” Cuellar authentically channels Peruvian vocal traditions, her warm voice expressing heartfelt emotional depth enhanced by traditional accents and delicate vibrato. It is here that her stylistic echoes of Afro-Peruvian icon Susana Baca shine bright. “Agua de Beber / Water to Drink” showcases Cuellar’s bilingual diction, which is clear and emotive. Her rhythmic agility blends jazz sophistication with Latin rhythmic traditions.

“Maria Lando” further exemplifies Cuellar’s emotional delivery, her expressive dynamics and articulate phrasing vividly communicating the song’s narrative depth. Cuellar’s vocal timbre and phrasing to create fresh emotional nuances, emphasizing her versatility and interpretive depth. The romantic fervor of “Tu, Mi Delirio” is intensified through Cuellar’s nuanced vocal interpretation, expertly supported by rhythmic ensemble arrangements and Greg Petito’s guitar solo.

Produced at Wire Road Studios in Houston, the album’s sonic clarity of the vocals is excellent. Young’s arrangements, featuring standout contributions from Andre Hayward (trombone), Myron Jackson (trumpet), Anthony Caceres (bass), and Greg Petito (guitar), expertly fuse jazz harmonies and Afro-Peruvian rhythms, resulting in a cohesive and vibrant soundscape.

Under a Lavender Sky is an album that comes from the heart of world music, demonstrating Ermelinda Cuellar’s compelling ability to unite vocal artistry, cultural narrative, and technical precision. This album gives listeners a collection of songs with cross-cultural expressions of authentic Peruvian, African, Indigenous, and Spanish influences with Latin jazz and jazz.