Before mankind had any physical instruments there was certainly the human voice as the first instrument, and that's the instrument Marshell Jones masters very well. Her album Evidence Of Things Not Seen isn't the usual lightweight here today, gone tomorrow stuff that sounds so great as background music but an amazing collection of self-written and self-produced songs that are reduced to just a few instruments (or none at all) and Marshell's voice. Her music is very different from what is available these days and that makes it so special. Marshall's music comprises elements of jazz, soul and funk but all with a more experimental approach and a strong emphasis on the human voice. And so the album starts with the impressive a cappella Can You Tell.
The second song Fetu Lele (Flying Star) reminds me of some spiritual Alice Coltrane songs since it's only Marshell with drums, acoustic bass and a sitar and it's the one song I found the difficultiest here since it really took me some time to get into it.
Walkinprayer, Marshell's experience with drums played by Tomas Fujiwara, is another fine example what one can achieve with the reduction of voice and one instrument only.
Rather lavish instrumentalwise with drums, guitar and acoustic bass is Reachin, a strong jazz/soul song that's as good as Carmen Lundy or Dianne Reeves would record one and one of my favourite songs here.
The song that impressed me the most is the title track Evidence Of Things Not Seen on which Marshell is accompanied by Chris Pistorino on acoustic bass. More than seven minutes of musical bliss!
Another highlight is the funky Like There's No Tomorrow that shows us that Marshell also can do great uptempo songs.
Gottalight? sees Marshall singing and beatboxing with spoken words by Andrea Atsuko Dunham and is a good example of what Marshall is capable of doing with her voice.
And then there's a hidden bonus track that sounds like a funky, improvised reprise version of Fetu Lele or maybe it's just the sitar that misleads me on this song.
All in all an impressive album from an artist that dares to be different from today's mainstream and I'm very curious to hear more by Marshell Jones.


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