JAANA NARSIPUR
REVIEWS
The Re-Collection
In The Pocket Jazz 2026
“Jaana allows each tune to breathe while still offering subtle harmonic and rhythmic shifts. Whether she’s mining new riches from Sting, Simply Red or Eurythmics, Jaana’s voice is the confident, unifying force, approaching the material less as fixed compositions and more like living frameworks, adjusting her phrasing and tone to uncover intricacies that might otherwise go unnoticed.” - JONATHAN WIDRAN
There’s a fine line between nostalgia and reinterpretation, and vocalist Jaana Narsipur walks it with a clear, playfully charming swirl of whimsy, reflection and purpose on The Re-Collection. Rather than simply revisiting familiar material from the ‘80s pop canon – a formative era for her early evolving musical sensibilities – the veteran NYC/Hudson Valley vocalist reshapes it from the inside out, finding new contours on a compelling Brit-centric slate of radio chestnuts (and a few lesser known gems) that have long since settled into our collective memory.
Beyond Jaana’s inviting yet commanding vocal presence, the sensually soulful, sometimes snazzy horn fired arrangements and her intuitive collaboration with her poppin’ trio of pianist/MD Nicki Adams, bassist Marco Panascia, drummer/percussionist Joe Abba, what makes this album transcend the realm of mere “covers project” is her dedicated sense of intention.JW VIBE by Jonathan Widran
“A project rooted in memory, elevated by craft, and brought to life through collaboration, resulting in a listening experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly original.”
“With The Re-Collection, Jaana Narsipur offers more than a reinterpretation of beloved songs—she creates a bridge between past and present, honoring the music that shaped her while asserting her own distinct artistic voice.”
Rather than simply reworking familiar tunes through a jazz lens, Narsipur approaches each song as a storyteller, reshaping them with layered arrangements, harmonic sophistication, and an intimate emotional core. The result is a collection that feels both nostalgic and entirely new. As she describes it, the album became “an act of remembering and reimagining—holding onto what made these songs meaningful while discovering new ways to tell their stories.”
At the heart of the album is a close creative partnership with pianist and music director Nicki Adams. Together, they crafted arrangements that preserve the spirit of the originals while opening them up into expressive, improvisation-friendly frameworks. The ensemble supporting Narsipur is equally impressive, featuring returning collaborators drummer/percussionist Joe Abba and tenor saxophonist Sean Nowell, alongside Grammy-nominated trumpeter Wayne Tucker, bassist Marco Panascia, trombonist Alex Jeun, and a distinguished string trio of violinist Meg Okura, violist Hannah Selin, and cellist Laura Masferrer. The group moves seamlessly between intimate trio interplay, groove-driven horn sections, and lush, cinematic string textures, creating a richly varied sonic landscape.
JAZZCHILL
“Vocalist Jaana Narsipur brings a fresh jazz sensibility to the sounds of the ‘80s on The Re-Collection, reshaping familiar pop and new wave material with warmth, sophistication, and a strong sense of storytelling."
Working alongside pianist Nicki Adams, drummer Joe Abba, tenor saxophonist Sean Nowell, trumpeter Wayne Tucker, bassist Marco Panascia, trombonist Alex Jeun, and string players Meg Okura, Hannah Selin, and Laura Masferrer, Narsipur moves effortlessly between intimate balladry, groove-driven arrangements, and lush cinematic textures. Drawing from the songwriting of artists such as Peter Gabriel, Sting, Kate Bush, Joe Jackson, and U2, the album allows the songs to breathe in a modern jazz setting shaped by expressive improvisation and nuanced vocal phrasing. The result is a stylish and thoughtfully crafted recording that feels both familiar and newly imagined.”
“Stellar vocal performances… Jaana's vocal performance is the driving force of the songs, and there is a delightful joy to her delivery….”
Vocalist Jaana Narsipur offers jazz renditions of pop songs from the latter half of the 1980s, songs she loved at the time and still loves. While some of these tracks are songs I didn't care much for when they were first released (as far as 1980s popular music goes, the first half of the decade is so much stronger), her approach creates a fresh appeal. And it's clear how much she is enjoying these songs, and that adds to the album's charm. She opens with "Breakout," a song that Swing Out Sister released as a single in 1986. The presence of a brass section is part of what makes this rendition much more appealing than the original recording.
Michael Doherty MUSIC LOG