When you link your musical objective to a
jazz
icon like
Ben Webster
, certain expectations are created and, as here, rarely are these expectations met. Certainly,
Jacintha
sings songs
Webster
played, and she sings them very nicely. But there's none of the raspy timbre in her voice that made
's saxophone immediately recognizable.
confuses raspy with singing softly. She and the producers would have been better served by presenting these songs as hers, not
's. The focus then would be where it belongs (i.e., what she does with these classics). With excellent pitch, good diction, and sensitive interpretations of the lyrics, she makes these songs her own. One highlight is her
a cappella
treatment of
"Danny Boy."
Throughout the session,
receives solid support from veteran
Teddy Edwards
'
blues
-drenched saxophone (he's a lot closer to
than
is). He and
work well together, as on
"How Long Has This Been Going On?"
The venerable drummer
Larance Marable
and bass player
Darek Oles
combine to lay a solid, sensitive foundation for the proceedings.
Oles
' bass is especially prominent on
"Over the Rainbow."
Former
Miles Davis
pianist
Kei Akagi
is a capable accompanist. This album is a solid enough effort solely on the strength of
's natural talent. The obeisance to
was not only unnecessary, but distracting. ~ Dave Nathan