Niia Bertino’s V marks her return to jazz after several years spent exploring indie pop, edgy R&B, and neo-soul. Its striking black-and-white cover photo reveals her posing with a heretic fork around her neck. The implement was a torture device used during the Middle Ages to punish people who challenged orthodox rules.
The set was co-produced by Spencer Zahn and Lawrence Rothman. Both wrote or co-wrote songs for the set, as did Chloe Angelides and the date’s saxophonist Nicole McCabe.
Niia‘s vocals and piano are backed by an assortment of contributors including bassist Anna Butterss, McCabe, drummer James McAlister, trumpeter Jon Natchez, and brass multi-instrumentalist CJ Camereri.