With the Bill Peterson Trio, Mariah Picot offers original vocal impressions that take their roots from various aspects of our daily lives.  By its very nature, improvised music comes from the heart and remains fresh and alive in performance.  Picot has written lyrics that follow her intentions, but their delivery maintains a genuine spontaneity in translation.  The piano trio gives her an intense driving force that exudes a loose, swinging rhythm alongside her vocal interpretations.  Possessing a clear soprano voice, Picot glides fluidly with unexpected intervallic leaps, heightening the spontaneous nature of her performance.

            “Notes on the Bridge,” the album’s title track, features an extended piano interlude that drives the piece forcefully. At both ends of the composition, however, Picot and the trio meaner loosely, employing rubato phrases here and there.  The personal nature of the piece instills spiritual fervor.  She’s at her best when working alone with bassist Jeff Denson.  Together, they introduce several pieces with a bass and vocal conversation that caresses the melody succinctly.  Elsewhere, the ensemble works together in a cohesive affair that sparkles with swinging forces and driven passion.  While Picot’s lyrics are included in the album’s liner booklet, their clear understanding is hampered by the over-powering music.  In places the singer attempts to put too many words into a single phrase, making it difficult to comprehend.  While the music takes over, it also lends a creative force to the program’s spontaneous quality.  Thus, the audience is able to enjoy listening to the music, but must resort to reading the lyrics for the booklet.  As the two aspects come together, one overpowers the other.

            “Afternoon Cocoon” provides a lilting waltz time adventure, while “Suddenly Sane” jogs convulsively with an up-tempo samba texture.  Peterson and Denson solo frequently, and drummer Ronen Itzik provides a solid foundation.  The Unity of Panama City Choir joins them briefly for a portion of “Lucid Blue”, which moves lightly with a languorous bossa nova quality.  Picot’s spacious ballad “What if Truth Could Tell” lingers in the heart with deep meaning.  Performed as a piano-vocal duo, the piece explores relationships on both a personal and universal level.  “Stay Awake” drives with  a decidedly bebop texture. While “Fine Tuning” explores a feverish blues stroll.  Both represent the mainstream well, while providing a showcase for Picot’s deep lyrics.  The album closes with “Until Then”, which offers a timeless prayer of hope and patience for all in their daily endeavors.  Picot’s album represents a love letter that she’s graciously surrounded with the sounds of enthralling mainstream jazz.