Liane Carroll: Seaside - Album review

Is Liane Carroll a good singer for a pianist, or a good pianist for a singer? The answer is she's pretty great at both. Her ninth album is a loving evocation of all things coastal, particularly her home on the south coast of England, delivered as only Carroll can, combining the chops and instincts of a jazz musician with the credibility and emotional depth of a great interpreter of songs. Joe Stilgoe's title track is a wistful tug at childhood memories, Allison Krauss's Get Me Through December is a windswept cri de coeur, and the old Morecambe and Wise theme tune, Bring Me Sunshine, is reborn as a quiet rumba. A riveting, emotional listen, with notable musical contributions from trumpeter and producer James McMillan, saxophonist Julian Siegel, and most of all, from the leader. linnrecords.com