A British singer of Jamaican heritage, has carved out a distinctive niche on the global jazz scene with her progressive, yet always soulful style that blends R&B, folk, and reggae influences. It's a sound she has showcased to acclaim on albums like her 2014 MOBO Award-winning , 2017's , and 2020's . Those albums highlighted her original compositions and strong Afro-Caribbean influences. With 2024's , she highlights her more straight-ahead acoustic jazz roots, paying homage to her idol and revealing her deep grasp of the standards-based vocal tradition. Collaborating with her on the project is clarinetist and saxophonist . An Italian-born/New York-bred improviser, has lived in London since at least 2015 and leads his own band, many of whose members are featured here, including pianist , bassist , and drummer , along with steel pan player and cellist . One of the great jazz divas, (who started performing in the 1930s and died in 1990) is revered for helping to bring bebop and hardcore jazz into the world of jazz vocals, pop, and standards. With her bright, highly resonant tone, shaded by just the right amount of throaty grit, certainly evokes 's style; one that ably moves between bluesy swagger and velvety after-hours sophistication. Together, and conjure an atmosphere of warm authenticity, digging into a mix of classic and lesser-performed songs associated with . Much of the album was recorded live to tape and consequently, cuts like the swinging "Mean to Me" and "September Song" have the relaxed glow of a nightclub performance. There are even more ambitious ear-popping moments, including the spiraling, double-tracked sax and clarinet riff that opens "The Mystery of Man," the title track from her ambitious 1985 recording featuring songs inspired by the philosophical writings of Pope John II. The song's inclusion here speaks to 's unique artistic choices and 's desire to spotlight those distinctive points in her career. Similarly, dives into the steel pan-accented, Afro-Brazilian number "Obsession" off 1987's , 's collaboration with . She also offers an earthy reading of 's "Inner City Blues," just as did on her 1971 debut ; a record that marked a comeback for the singer who pursued ever more diverse sounds for the rest of her career. More than just a standards or tribute album, reveals just how stylistically broad-minded was, a compelling trait carries forward with passionate aplomb. ~ Matt Collar