Jazz singer Laird Jackson released her debut album in 1994, her second in 2002 and this her third in 2024 so she is not one of the most prolific artists around, but has nothing to apologise about and says, “Life happened, I didn’t stop living. I travelled, I wrote, I recorded on other people’s projects.” This is not an album which many people will think of as jazz as while there are plenty of musicians involved the most important is probably percussionist Jeff Haynes (Pat Metheny, Cassandra Wilson, Brandi Carlile), with Laird bouncing off with a unique vocal approach.
This is an album all about vocals, from gospel though to ballads and torch songs, jazz styles included, with Laird being in full control and an absolute delight throughout. I must confess that when this was offered to me as a download I passed quickly by, but it then arrived as a CD and one of my personal rules is I always review everything physical which is sent to me, and I am so glad I did. This is a vocal adventure, as one never knows what is going to come next, just that it will contain wonderful vocals which will have the perfect accompaniment. There is a great deal of space contained within the arrangements, with all musicians knowing they are there to enhance and not replace, and there is real sense of presence throughout. The result is one of the most enjoyable female vocal albums I have come across for some time and the only way to really play this is by having it on headphones and falling into her world. This is a delight from beginning to end.
Rating: 8/10
