Husky voiced Andy James surrounds herself with some of the best in jazz on this impressive album of standards and obscurities. The supporting team includes a horn section of Rick Margitza/Bob Sheppard/ts, Terell Stafford/tp and Michael Dease/tb, Bill Cunliffe and John Beasley on the keys, bass masters John Patitucci and Chris Colangelo, drummers Vinnie Colaiuta or Marvin “Smitty” Smith and percussionist Alex Acuna keeping the feel caliente.
James gives a rich and mature Carmen McRae timing with a Latin take of “In The Still of the Night” and is original and alluring with some sauntering piano on “Perfidia”. The salsa is spiced with percussion on “But Not For Me” and she’s coy with piano and strings on “Call Me”. She sounds comfortable on the kitschy “Papa Loves Mambo” while getting dark and moody on a palpably rich take of “Evil Ways”. A free range singer.