Vocalist Gillian Margot is one of the few ladies that can successfully walk the tightrope of jazz and soul, displayed with aplomb on this album with long-time teammate Geoffrey on piano and keyboards. The rest of the core consists of Richie Goods/b, Billy Kilson-Mark Whitfield Jr/dr and guest appearances by Ingrid Jensen/tp, Seamus Blake/ss, Ben B utler/g, Munyungo Jackson/perc and the LIZEN Strings of Highland Park. Margo has a way of grabbing your attention with her clear and confident vibrato as she’s joined by strings and Jensen on a dramatic read of “Black Is The Colour (of My True Love’s Hair)”, while extending her arms out in vulnerability with the strings, Keezer and Butler on her own “Lighthouse”. With Keezer on the keys, she’s cheerfully sweet on the Motown mood of Stevie Wonder’s title piece and gives a wink on the funky “This Night”. Jensen’s muted horn adds warmth as she floats along the bass line of “Shadow Box” while displaying an effortlessly wide range to Wayne Shorter’s fluid “Now Is Where You Were”. Flexible and strong.