Fresh new voices.
Alexandrea Jackson has a folksy tone to her voice as she veers towards modern Brazilian sounds on this ep. Her sensuous nasal delivery is a charmer on “Brazilica” and is warm and alluring with the percussion on “Sonho Meu.” The horns get R&B ish on an assertive take of “Girl From Ipanema” while she does a tropical co lead with Dona Ivone Lara and Pretinho Da Serrinha on “Forca da Imaginacao” and gets into the pop limelight on “Our Time Now.” Accessible moods.
Heather Bennett’s alluring soft sound works wonders on this subdued collection of covers with Bill Mobley/tp-fh, Pete McCann/g, Mike Richmond/b and Tim Horner/dr. She’s personal and reflective on a delicate take of the gospel “Steal Away to Jesus” while dreamy on the wide eyed take of Jobim’s “Zingaro.” Horner snaps the team to attention on a clever take of Sting’s “King of Pain” while Bennett sounds almost confessional on U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” She can bop with the best as she wisps through “Pennies From Heaven/Lennie’s Pennies” and is stately on “True Colors.” Lovely water colors.