There are times when a singer grabs the attention of the listener from the first note through to the very last, and that is exactly what we have here from seasoned performer Rose Mallett. She has been around the soul and jazz scene for some years, and was such a friend of Marvin Gaye that she was often found in the studio hearing him record the likes of “What’s Going On” and “Sexual Healing.” This combination of styles is very much to the fore in her latest album which finds her moving from Sondheim to BB King through Stevie Wonder and others.

It is an album of liquidity, smooth and with enough sass and finesse to move it well away from being bland so one can just relax into the style and let the music just take over. The songs were recorded over multiple sessions, with four different band line-ups plus one where one person not only engineered, produced and arranged it but also provided all the instruments, but they have been put together in such a way and with such a concentration on the vocals that they feel very closely linked. Rose is obviously a performer who is well-versed in appearing in theatres as well as with bands, and that theatricality comes through in her voice. The arrangements are deft and designed to show off her vocals, with “Feelin’ Good” being a particular delight, and she is more than happy to hold a long note at the end of a song just to show how easy it is for her and how much control she has. “Send In The Clowns” has been slowed down and is packed full of emotion, and one can easily imagine Bette Midler listening to this version with a smile as here she demonstrates a very similar style.

I am not always 100% sure of the production, as there is some lack of continuity from the different sessions, but the performance of all involved is exemplary and the result is an album which is well worth discovering by those who want their jazz to be somewhat softer, languorous and full of soul.

Rating: 8/10

Links:
https://rosemallett.com/