Boy, there are just so many anonymous sounding vocalists out there, that it’s so refreshing when you come across someone like this lady. She mixes the jazz feel with the soul 60s groove, and her Marilyn McCoo voice is the perfect vehicle for this material. Even better, she mixes up the ensemble sounds, sometimes working with strings, other times with a jazz or folk ensemble. She goes sultry on the latin “Abre Mi Corazon” while just with bass, flute and finger snapping delivers a haunting and bluesy “I Know You By Heart.” A saucy “Midnight Sun” will get you hot under the collar while her hip take of “Better Than Anything” includes a wink in the eye reference to Vince Guaraldi. Some gypsy folk caravans through on “Hambone” and a clever and exciting “Parana e’ seques into a celebrative “Taking It To The Streets.” This lady’s got a lot of ideas, and she drives them home like a veteran clean up hitter! Check this one out!
Roots Jazz Records
www.amikaeyla.com