Shiri Zorn & George Muscatello Featuring: Mauricio Zottarelli, Looking for Light Review

by Stamish Malcuss

Looking for Light presents a captivating blend of jazz, Latin, Middle Eastern, and Brazilian influences through the distinct voices of jazz vocalist Shiri Zorn, guitarist George Muscatello, and percussionist Mauricio Zottarelli. This album, released in May 2025, is a sequel to their previous collaboration, Into Another Land. Each piece offers a fresh approach to classic standards and original compositions. The trio’s ability to create a rich, full sound without the presence of a bass is a striking feature of the album.

“Garota de Ipanema” is reimagined here with subtle variations that will surprise and find a place in your musical memories. Muscatello’s guitar provides a lush, harmonic foundation that contrasts beautifully with Zorn’s cool vocal delivery. Zottarelli’s rhythmic precision on percussion adds an atmospheric Latin layer to this timeless piece. Zorn’s phrasing of the melody is through her distinctive cultural lens of merging Brazilian samba rhythms with jazz sensibilities is excellent.

“It’s Alright with Me” finds the trio creating a modern setting for Porter’s classic. Zorn’s voice floats above Muscatello’s guitar with Zottarelli giving the song a relaxed Latin meets the Middle East feeling. Muscatello’s improvisational sections offer fresh harmonic interpretations, while Zottarelli’s percussion adds the rhythmic shifts that enhances the feel. Zorn’s improvisations are very conversational with the other members.

“So Nice (Summer Samba)” is a joyful samba with rich harmonic textures. Muscatello’s dynamic guitar playing and Zorn’s fluid vocal phrasing are imaginative. Zottarelli’s percussion interlocks with the guitar and voice, creating a cohesive rhythmic conversation. The trio’s interplay on this track is the key driver of emotion. The incorporation of a Middle Eastern inflection to the melody further enhances the global flavor of the album.

“Nothing at All” is an original composition by Muscatello and Zorn, featuring rich, modal guitar colors and Zorn’s vocal lines that eloquently flow between vocalese and lyrical delivery. The piece balances improvisational freedom with structured moments. Zorn’s voice takes on an instrumental quality, blending with Muscatello’s guitar to create a mesmerizing sonic landscape. Zottarelli’s percussion provides a deep rhythmic foundation, especially in the middle section, where the pulse intensifies.

“Prayer” is a beautiful original piece that draws on Eastern and Western harmonic and rhythmic influences. Muscatello’s guitar arpeggios are interestingly voiced, and Zorn’s voice moves between a non-lyric and lyric phrases. Zottarelli’s percussion here is powerful. The middle section show how the trio can release the time, let the feel breath, and then build back again. Zorn’s contributes to the rhythmic undercurrent under Muscatello’s creative guitar solo. The hand-claps are an excellent orchestrative color.

“Haunted People,” another Muscatello/Zorn composition, explore another sound scape created by the trio. Opening with guitar arpeggios and colors from Zottarelli. Zorn’s voice explores darker territory, while still maintaining controlled pitch and presence. Muscatello’s guitar provides forward-moving basslines in some sections that build a feeling of release from the syncopated tensions of other spaces. Zottarelli’s percussion introduces textural colors, adding to the track’s mysterious aura.

A short but potent piece, “Shadow Soul” (Muscatello/Zorn), opens with Zorn singing a beautiful melody, a Capello before the guitar and percussion bring in the Latin meets Middle Eastern rhythms. Zorn’s phrasing here is intentionally sustained, allowing Muscatello’s guitar to occupy more of the space. Zottarelli’s percussion is crucial in establishing the mood of the trio’s interaction.

“Dancing in the Dark” is a modern reworking of a classic standard. Muscatello’s lush guitar and Zorn’s angelic vocals build with the percussion to give a charged performance that moves to a cinematic and interesting middle section, with Zorn offering interesting lyrics. The trio’s expressive transforms this classic into something fresh that propels it forward to an impressive artistic statement.

Looking for Light is a captivating trio journey guided by three world-class musicians who blend influences from jazz, Brazilian music, Middle Eastern traditions, and more. Each track is a trio statement that creates a rich, layered sound of jazz standards and original compositions. The result offers a refreshing listening experience.