Cécile McLorin Salvant returns with new album Mélusine

The new record features a mix of originals and interpretations, dating as far back as the 12th century, mostly sung in French along with Occitan, English, and Haitian Kreyol. Early word on the album’s concept hints at Salvant’s increasing explorations away from the traditional jazz canon. As such the songs tell the story of the European folkloric legend of Mélusine, a woman who turns into a half-snake each Saturday as a result of a childhood curse by her mother.

The story goes that Mélusine later agrees to marry Raymondin on the condition that he never see her on Saturdays. He agrees but is ultimately convinced by his brother to break his promise, piercing his wife’s door with his sword and finding her naked in the bath, half snake, half woman. When she catches him spying on her, she turns into a dragon and flies out the window, only to reappear every time one of her descendants is on their deathbed. dragon and flies out the window, only to reappear every time one of her descendants is on their deathbed.

Commenting on the album Salvant said: “I think what I try to do is more akin to revealing secrets than telling stories. Revealing secrets is also the snake’s role in the Garden [of Eden]. The snake brings secrets, knowledge, pain, and mayhem.”

She continues, “The story of Mélusine is also the story of the destructive power of the gaze. Raymondin’s sword pierces a hole into her iron door. His gaze does too. The gaze is transformative and combustible. She sees that he is secretly seeing her. Her secret is revealed. This double gaze turns her into a dragon. She can now breathe fire.”

This will doubtless be grist to the singer’s increasingly creative mill.

For more info visit www.nonesuch.com/artists/cecile-mclorin-salvant and cecilemclorinsalvant.lnk.to/Melusine