Colette Henry

You stole my heartNo label ***

The acid test for any jazz singer is whether there is a feeling that the idiom has changed when the vocalist drops outand the solos begin. It's one that Colette Henry passes on her debut CD. A rhythm section of Johnny Taylor, Dominic Mullan and either Dan Bodwell or Andrew Csibi provide an ideal setting for her light voice and swinging mainstream approach. Good phrasing (if a tad too deliberate on the rubato section of Lush Life) and secure pitching also reinforce an intimate style that, although not markedly individual and in no way inclined to push the envelope, shows a well-crafted respect for the material. Some choices, including a couple of originals, could have been more substantial, but Henry and the band, with Taylor in fine form, acquit themselves well, notably on the title track, Nature Boyand You Don't Know What Love Is. Fans should love it.

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