As her mother was before her, along with Norma Winstone, Jacqui Dankworth is now the benchmark for the current crop of singers with aspirations to aim for and they couldn't go far wrong by starting with Windmills.
Like all in the Dankworth dynasty: Cleo Laine, Sir John Dankworth and Alec Dankworth, jazz, a sense of swing, an individual approach and an appreciation of music in general is deeply embedded in their genes and never more so than this interpretation of some classic lyrics and not yet time-worn melodies.
Sinatra made London by Night his own but Jacqui runs him close - maybe by a short head if that.
Ballads and bossas, sad songs and swingers. An original, a traditional Irish song married to a Patrick Kavanagh poem and Lucky to be me from On the Town.
This latter number was also on the Nel Begley debut album that I reviewed yesterday. This could be tricky...
I'm still undecided. Both vocals are great. I love the small group feel of Nel's album and I'm in awe of Charlie Wood's arrangement for strings. Dead heat!
A vocal masterclass. I read somewhere that, initially, Jacqui Dankworth's ambition was to be an opera singer. Fortunately she saw the error of her ways before it was too late and the only remnant of her juvenile delinquency is a pitch perfect range that many divas would die for. Recommended. Lance
London by Night; The Windmills of You Mind; So Many Stars; Baubles, Bangles & Beads; If You go Away; On Raglan Road; Will You Wait For me (?); Love Dance; I Can Let go Now; Lucky to be me; Send in the Clowns; Some Other Time.
Available May 2 (Perdido Records)
*Carducci String Quartet: Matthew Denton, Michelle Fleming (violins); Eoin Schmidt-Martin (viola); Emma Denton (cello).
**BBC Big Band: Julian Siegel (conductor); Mike Lovatt, Andy Greenwood, Tom Dennis, Hugh Pascall (trumpets); Rob Harvey, Kieran McLeod, Rory Ingham, Pete North (trombones); Howard McGill, Sammy Mayne (alto sax, flute); Martin Williams, Robert Fowler (tenor sax, clarinet); Chris Caldwell (baritone sax, bass flute).
***Bedazzle!: Jacqueline Shave (leader); Magnus Johnston, Richard George, Marije Johnston (violins); Clare Finnimore, Clive Howard (violas); Jane Fenton, Helena Meikle (cellos).
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