Becca Stevens – Regina review: ‘a rich tapestry’

Ever inventive New York jazz vocalist Becca Stevens has created a regal alter ego for her fourth album, a character whose imperious presence is threaded throughout queen-themed songs combining elements of pop, rock and funk; classical music, British folk, jazzy Appalachian bluegrass.

It’s a rich tapestry on which to work, and Stevens does so with aplomb, playing an array of stringed instruments, singing her own backing vocals, letting her luxurious voice curl around lyrics inspired by history and literature; the single Queen Mab, a take on Shakespeare’s fairy midwife, is dizzying, ye olde fabulous.

The likes of David Crosby, Laura Mvula, Snarky Puppy’s Michael League lend their talents; courtiers, all of them, to Stevens’ sublime Regina. Stevens plays Brixton Academy, with Snarky Puppy, on May 5.

(Groundup Music)