Mira Choquette – Vocals
Samvel Gasparyan – Piano
Dave Geodakyan – Upright Bass (2, 4, 7, 8)
Arman Mnatsakanyan – Drums (2, 4, 7, 8)
David Tadevosyan – Trumpet (4)
Khachatur Khachatryan – Tenor Saxophone (4)
Karen Sargsyan – Trombone (4)

Mira Choquette has a warm voice, a wide range, her own approach to singing jazz, and the uncanny ability to make every note count. For her latest recording Hier Encore, the multi-lingual vocalist has teamed up with the superb Armenian jazz pianist Samvel Gasparyan for a set of thoughtful and quietly emotional music.

Hier Encore finds Ms. Choquette giving a fresh spin to songs by Michel Legrand, Blossom Dearie, Tadd Dameron, Thelonious Monk, Charles Aznavour, John Klenner, and Mexican composer Armando Manzanero. While many of these performances are duets with the tasteful and soulful pianist Gasparyan, a few also include bassist Dave Geodakyan (who is also a well-respected educator, composer, and conductor), drummer Arman Mnatsakanyan (who plays with Tigran Hamasyan) and, on Just Friends, some of the best horn players in Yerevan.

Among the highlights of this rewarding album are heartwarming versions of If You Could See Me Now, Monk’s ballad Reflections, two Legrand songs (including What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?, which is one of three selections performed in French), Charles Aznavour’s Hier Encore (Yesterday When I Was Young), and the beautiful ballad Contigo Aperendí, which is sung in Spanish. A change of pace to the often-haunting music is offered in a scat-filed swinging rendition of John Klenners’ Just Friends and Blossom Dearie’s lowdown Long Daddy Green.

Following her previous three albums (Something Cool, the EP It Felt Like A Fall Affair, and In Reel Time), the release of Hier Encore is a major accomplishment, and a beautiful addition to Choquette’s catalogue. “Recording in Armenia with these amazing players was a great experience,” recalls Choquette. “The wet weather, the culture, and the atmosphere lent itself to melancholy songs and resulted in what I like to call a jazz album for grownups.”

mirachoquette.bandcamp.com

Release Date: Friday, May 16th 2025