Casual fans of
Etta James most often thought of her as a blues singer, and she was, when that was what she wanted to do, but she also sang straight girl group pop, belted out R&B and soul tunes, and she also, when she chose, took herself uptown and sang jazz. That's the case here, as
James elegantly delivers her versions of vocal jazz standards like
Sammy Cahn and
Jule Styne's "Time After Time" and
Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You," in front of a tight and fluid big band comprised of
Josh Sklair (guitar),
Eddie Harris and
Herman Riley (tenor saxophone),
Ronnie Buttacavoli (trumpet, fluegelhorn),
Kraig Kilby (trombone),
Cedar Walton (piano),
John Clayton (bass),
Paul Humphrey (drums), and
Donto Metto James (shakers). It's all graceful and uptown, and
James' singing is hauntingly beautiful. ~ Steve Leggett
