HEAR ME is the debut album from jazz vocalist Zuri Alexander. Though not autobiographical, it traces the emotional arc of a person’s decision to go no contact with a parent. Six original songs move alongside reimagined standards, “April in Paris” and “The Gentle Rain”, carrying the story from tension to clarity and release. The album explores what happens when speaking up feels more dangerous than being disrespected. She voices her feelings in the spoken word piece “Writing Journal Entry 334”. In “Hear Me”, she speaks her truth and declares she is going no contact. “Through the Truth” finds her facing the unknown. HEAR ME is a record of rare emotional truth framed by pianist Hiro Morozumi, bassist Jeffery Littleton, drummer Jimmy Ford, guitarist Mitchell Long, and saxophonist Louis Van Taylor.