****RINGER OF THE WEEK****Lauren Henderson: Conjuring

Following up on her last album, the seductive La Bruja, vocalist Lauren Henderson continues using less to say more on this dishabille-dressed collection of late night moods. She mixes and matches with the cool tones of Joel Ross/vib, Gabe Schnider-Nick Tannura/g, Sean Mason-John Chin/p,Ericf Wheeler/b and Joe Dyson, blending her own material together with some jazz standards like scented candles. Both English and Spanish versions of “ It’s Magic” have Henderson delivering subliminal warbles, drawing you in with her understated allure. Her “oh” over Wheeler’s bass line on “  That Old Black Magic” says more than most songs by today’s songwriters, while her  hovering over Mason’s Ellingtonian p iano on “Daydream” is like a sensuous smoke ring. Restrained ripples around Ross’ vibes enter the shadows of your mind on ”Spells” and she creates a come hither haze on ”Potions”. This lady makes Julie London sound butch!

www.laurenhenderson.com

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