What do Sting, Pat
Benatar, Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Hiroshima,
Government Mule, and Pink Floyd all have in common? In
addition to the obvious fact that each has enjoyed
massive commercial success, all of those artists are
fortunate enough to have availed themselves of the vocal
talents of singer/songwriter and guitarist Machan. Now,
with the release of Motion of Love on Nu Groove Records,
Machan is truly stepping out from the background with a
CD that showcases the many facets of her exotic
adult-pop-meets-jazz sound.
Machan’s reputation as
an accomplished professional has earned her the respect
of her musical peers, some of the most illustrious of
which join her on Motion of Love. The CD features guest
appearances by jazz greats John Medeski, John Scofield,
and Randy Brecker, and Brazilian percussionist Portinho,
as well as strong musical contributions from Government
Mule’s Danny Louis (who also just happens to be Machan’s
husband!) Not to be overlooked is Machan’s first-class
guitar playing that sets the table for this feast of
talent.
Motion of Love
is Machan’s second CD, following
her eponymous debut of a few years back (released on
A440 Records.) Machan says that the new CD is evidence
of a new confidence and maturity. “I think my first
record was a great introduction to my abilities, but
with Motion of Love, I really tried to be thoughtful
about including songs with different grooves and diverse
subject matter to give my audience a broader sense of
what I’m about, both musically and personally.”
Machan wrote all but
one of the ten songs on Motion of Love. Drawing from
her own experiences and emotions, Machan tackles both
the personal and the universal in her songwriting,
although as she says, “It all feels personal for me,
even if I’m writing from a fictional framework.” The CD
kicks off with its title track, a lyrical, smooth
adventure that highlights the simple purity of Machan’s
voice. The smooth vibe continues with the full-bodied
and tasty love song, “More,” which features John Medeski
on Fender Rhodes. The light hearted Reggae-influenced
lilt of “Everyday” belies the pointed social commentary
of its lyrics. “As I’ve gotten older, I find I can’t
ignore what’s happening in the world or the way I feel
about it,” explains Machan. “In order to develop as a
songwriter, I want to be a person that speaks her
truth.”
The CD’s only cover is
Machan’s version of Government Mule’s “Beautifully
Broken,” but with significant changes that make it very
much her own. “I even changed the chords to suit my
arrangement, which is completely different from
Government Mule’s. I also really wanted to cover a song
from another idiom, from the other end of the musical
spectrum, and make it work for me” Machan explains. “Of
course ‘Beautifully Broken’ has a great lyric, and
that’s what really turned me on.” Contributing to the
song’s impact are John Scofield on guitar and Portinho
on drums.
Randy Brecker’s trumpet
on “A Broken Heart Like This” provides just the right
mournful note to support Machan’s poignant lyrical
exploration of loss and sorrow. Things take a more
upbeat turn on “Extraordinary Thing,” propelled by a
light, sparkling ambiance courtesy of Medeski’s
Wurlitzer, and continue in a light-hearted direction
with “Little Bird, “ which features a strapping alto sax
solo by Aaron Heick, who’s performed with Marc Cohen,
Chaka Kahn, and Grover Washington, Jr., among others.
With “In Your Word”
Machan explores the importance of personal
responsibility in the world today, again tapping John
Medeski’s keyboard contributions to provide emphasis to
the song’s strong lyrical content. In fact, the song
percolates with a kind of jam band feel, as a result of
the musical interplay between Medeski, Danny Louis on
clavinet, and guitarist John Herington (Steely Dan.) The
Brazilian vibe that subtly permeates much of Machan’s
work takes center stage on the romantic “Your Smile,”
which fittingly pairs the vocalist with husband Danny
Louis, playing both Hammond B3 and Hohner keyboards.
The CD concludes with the sincere ballad, “Vulnerable,
which Machan describes as “raw and real.”
It’s no surprise that
Machan has followed a musical path. Her mother was a
Japanese jazz vocalist who met Machan’s father when he
booked her trio, which also featured pianist Toshiko
Akioshi, into a post WWII officers club in Yokohama.
Raised in the US, by the age of twelve Machan had taught
herself to play the guitar, emulating her early musical
heroes such as Joni Mitchell and James Taylor, and had
begun to perform in venues around her hometown. By the
age of 16, she was supporting herself as a performer.
She studied jazz theory and vocal performance at William
Patterson College, and soon found herself sharing the
stage with artists ranging from Pink Floyd to George
Benson to Sting. The lessons she learned from her
experiences in the world of pop superstardom resonate
for her now that she’s committing her self to her solo
career: “The guys in Pink Floyd were mega rock stars
yet they were down to earth and wonderful to work with.
They taught me that success doesn’t mean you have to be
out of touch with reality or change who you are. You
decide who you want to be and what to do with that kind
of power.”
A few years back,
following an extensive tour with Sting, Machan finally
felt the confidence to strike out on her own as a
performer. “Even though I had some great experiences,
working as a background singer wasn’t what I really
wanted to do. When I was younger, I hadn’t found my
direction or my voice as an artist, so I hid behind
other artists.” Machan began to find her own way with
her debut self-titled release, which reflected the
singer’s myriad influences, softly weaving her inviting
vocals around warm Brazilian rhythms and adult pop
melodies, spiced with hints of jazz and world music.
“Now I feel like I’m
back on the path that I started down when I was a
teenager. I’ve come back to my own main road now, and I
am so happy to feel back on track.”
Motion of Love
sustains
the mellifluous momentum of Machan’s signature sound,
enhanced by an even greater depth and meaning.
“I hope that
people will feel like I’ve shared more of myself with
them, this time out,” she explains. “I
hope that my music will touch or inspire them in some
way. After all, isn’t that what everyone wants – to
contribute and make a difference?”
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