Vocalist Catherine Russell knocked me out of the ring with her last recording Bring It Back, and t his new one is just as good, if not better. Where’s she been all my life?
She has a relaxed and soulful delivery, not relying on hysterics, overblown chops or false emotions. Rather, she sounds like she’s telling you a story, a true lost art these days. She also knows how to pick both a song and a team of musicians. Of the latter, a Whitaker-Trammell combo of Matt Munisteri/g, Mark Shane/p, Tal Ronen/b and M ark McLean/dr lays down like the Funk Brothers along with a 6 member horn section for a mix and match of tracks.
She knows how to create a hot jazz hep jive with the banjo on a two beat cooker of “Swing! Brother, Swing!” while showing her slinky spine with Shane on “Don’t Take Your Love From Me.” She saunters with the horns on “I Can’t Believe You’re In Love With Me” and goes Broadway” with a show biz feel on an expressive title track. Her vibrato can get as wide as the Grand Canyon with some New Orleansy soprano on “You’ve Got The Right Key,” and shows her hip side like a chiropractic patient on ”When Lights Are Low.”
With all the jazz material, her heart is revealed on the closing tracks. She feels most at home on 50s R&B pieces with oozing saxes and relaxed beats during a convincing “Talk To Me, Talk To Me” and a street smart “Let Me Be The First To Know.” I gotta see this lady in concert; send her to LA!!!!
Jazz Village Records