Sometimes pedigrees and gene pools help. Catherine Russell’s dad, Luis, was the musical director for Louis Armstrong and lead his own bad with Red Allen back in the day, so she’s got the relaxes swing feel in her marrow.
It shows here, on this deliciously satisfying album of standards and obscure ditties with a simpatico team of Matt Munisteri/g-dir, Mark Shane/p, tal Ronen/b, Mark McLean/dr, a horn section of Jon_Erik Kellso/tp, John Allred/tb and Evan Arntzen/ts and a cameo string section.
Her clear voice saunters with relaxed confidence as the horns guide the way on a slinky “Alone Together” and she swaggers on a bluesy “I Wonder.” With some electric guitar she gets earthy on a fun “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby” while getting misy on “I Only Have Eyes For You.” Shane’s NO calypso feel is saucy for “Early In The Morning,” she gets fun and fast on a hot ‘cha “Errand Girl For Rhythm” and is cheerful as she swings on a peppy “You Can’t Pull The Wool Over My Eyes.” All the while, she sounds relaxed, deeply rooted in feeling over gloss, and making the timeless qualities of a song sound completely modern. Wonderful.