First, a disclaimer: I’m Greek. My wife says that disqualifies me from critiquing an album by a Greek because “You’d love it even if it were terrible, just because she’s Greek.” Then, I’d hear the rant about how Greeks think they’re better than everyone else. OK, honey, just calm down and make me some lamb chops…
Anyway , I digress. I don’t know if NYC based Melissa Stylianou can cook, but she sure can sing. She fronts a trio that has the high water mark team of Bruce Barth/p, Linda Oh/b and Matt Wilson/dr along with guests Anat Cohen/cl and Billy Drewes/as. The tunes mix well known and obscure standards, but what you’re going to love about this lady is her delivery. She’s got a late night slinky feel to her voice with just a dash of hush; she lures you in with understated flavors. Even better, she uses this as introductions to songs like “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” With Anat Cohen’s clarinet, she gives a early morning pie-eyed “Somebody’s On My Mind” that makes you want to get into her mind, while she dabbles just enough perfume behind her ears on “I Got It Bad” to make you keep coming back for more. Like showing just enough leg to keep you interested, but not too much for overkill, she lures you in on “Remind Me” and goes an easy pace with Oh on “I Wish I Knew.” She shows her guts by tackling “I Mean You” with only Barth’s piano, while holding back so that you want more on “Humming to Myself.”
This disc makes you want to see what she can do in a club-can she really be this good? Opa!
Anzic Records