Sylvia Rae feat. Warren Vach� & Brian Kellock - Close Enough

She is in world class company on this CD, with Warren Vach� and Brian Kellock playing absolutely exquisitely throughout, as well as her father and brother. On the trio tracks featuring Vach� the soloing is simply electric. There are many influences discernible here, or rather she reminds you of others in flashes - but not the usual suspects from the female vocal jazz canon - more like a hint of Dylan here, and a split second of Sting there, echoes of Chet Baker, and one moment in the second 8 bars of 'Misery and Blues where she somehow reminds this writer of the sweet and elastic tenor vibrato of David Murray. Sylvia herself cites many influences - Carmen MacRae - on the way she perceives songs, Fionna Duncan, John Hendricks, Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Fred Astaire. Whatever the chemical formula leading to it's formation, this is a strikingly individual artist who on this CD is making a significant and uncompromising statement the she will become an authentic and original voice.