Bitter Orange – Emma Smith

Bitter Orange is an album by Emma Smith focused on reinterpreting the Great American Songbook repertoire from a contemporary perspective.

The record unfolds in a trio format alongside Jamie Safir, Conor Chaplin, and Luke Tomlinson, integrating flexible arrangements that allow for constant interaction between voice and instrumentation.

The compositions—primarily standards—are approached through structural variations, lyrical shifts, and interpretive changes that expand upon their original readings.

The repertoire combines material from Broadway, cinema, and popular song, articulated through dynamic contrasts and a treatment that prioritizes narrative expression and timbral detail.

Released by La Reserve Records, the album consolidates an approach where tradition and intervention coexist within the language of modern vocal jazz.