The trio of vocalist June Tabor, pianist Huw Warren and saxist Iain Ballamy get together to create a dreamy mix of folk, moody late night jazz and rich melodic tales. Tabor’s voice is a jewel, and she can make it sound like a minstrel as she tells stark stories as on “The Shepherd And His Dog” and can deliver deep and palpable subtones as if she’s letting you in on a precious secret during a deeply intimate “Somewhere.” Her rich and husky voice blends beautifully with Ballamy’s tenor on the patient “Auld Lang Syne” and they sigh together on a deeply resigned “You Don’t Know What Love Is.” A couple instrumentals have Ballamy’s soprano forming dreamscapes with Warren on “Christchurch” while his breathy tenor teams with relaxed piano musings on “Emmeline.” Tabor make everything sound like an English pub, late at night, with everyone relaxed and ready to take in the thoughts of the evening. This is a precious gem to be savored, as are all her other albums.
ECM Records