Reviewed by Tony Cummings

Being a lover of female jazz divas who was brought up in a home where Ella, Sarah and the divine Carmen McCrae were a constant musical accompaniment to childhood games, I approached this album by Julie - a British jazz singer and Christian with a growing reputation in clubland - with considerable expectation, particularly as the accompaniment here was provided by the John Horler Trio and John is one of the finest pianists UK jazz has ever produced. I wasn't disappointed. Julie's tone is rich and warm and she glides around the deft Oscar Peterson-style arrangements with the confidence that only the most experienced vocalists can muster. I loved Phil Lee's liquid guitar solo on "Charade" while the occasional trumpet interjections of Ray Butcher, like on the French language "A L'enterrement De Sidney Bechet" (a tribute to the legendary clarinet maestro) is a delight. But above all I loved Julie's relaxed, understated vocals which recall those vocal giants of my childhood yet caricature none of them (which cannot always be said of Corinne Bailey Rae when she gets into Billie Holliday mode). Listen to the skilful way Julie rides the rhythm on one of the album's few originals, "Waiting Room Blues" (her composition). While her lugubrious reading of "You Go To My Head" is just the kind of slinky music you want to hear in the wee small hours of the morning. Any snags? Well, for me there are probably too many over-recorded standards (eg, the overrated "Alfie") while a song of faith would have been nice. But really, this is nit picking. Julie shows herself here to be a top rate singer. As and when she plays a club near me I'll be there.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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