This is rather special and if it had been scheduled for this month instead of February 2026 it would have been a top contender for Vocal Album of the Year. As it is, Chatterbox will be in the mix next year.
The blurb describes the album thus: "A love letter to the classic vocal jazz tradition, updated with fresh energy for new audiences, Chatterbox is a deeply swinging, warm-spirited collection of original vocalese, buoyant original compositions, and inventive reworkings of beloved jazz standards. With her instinctive sense of time, lyricism and storytelling, Balkwill bridges the lineage of classic vocal jazz with a contemporary, conversational voice — rooted in tradition while unmistakably her own." I'm not going to call them out on that, every word is spot on.
Come Over and Treat me Right: Great bluesy feel with effective contributions from trumpet and piano.
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered: Just voice with piano accompaniment and some discrete, barely audible, organ sounds. Balkwell sings the extended lyric with its suggestive overtones. A gem!
Careless Love: Original, much improved, lyrics although Big Pete Deuchar or George Melly would probably disagree! Trumpet and piano catch the feeling to perfection.
I Can't Get Started: The tune and the lyric are hinted at but the clever vocalese reminds of Eddie Jefferson's Moody's Mood for Love
Tea for Two: We're in O'Day territory here, all that's missing is the picture hat, Scatting at a tempo just short of the speed of light, tearing the tune apart, Fortunately she respects the verse which I've always regarded as better than the tune itself. Trumpet and drums trade fours and I'm left almost as breathless as surely Louise was.
Nearness of You: B3 intro after which it floats just below the surface. The voice makes me feel that Louise would be so nice to come home to and, guess what?
You'd be so Nice to Come Home to: Straight forward reading of the song before going into mid-tempo vocalese á la Annie's Twisted.
Why You Gotta Kick me When I'm Down?: A second original. It swings in a nice relaxed way. Despite the title it doesn't sound like the lady is protesting too much.
This Love of Mine: A beautifully rendered romantic ballad with a contrasting vocalese insertion. Incidentally, the vocalese tracks are said to be based on improvised solos by Harry Edison, Roy Eldridge, Sonny Rollins and Avishai Cohen but they aren't linked up so I can't connect them.
A Bit Too Much: Double bass solos on this, the third, original. A clever lyric: A bit too much of you is just enough for me.
Makin' Whoopee: Trumpet brings it in. The laconic vocal lays down the lyric before scatting happily away. It's quite a version and Louise Balkwell is quite a singer, with a great band - no wonder she's taking Europe by storm. Wonderful. Lance
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