The riveting filmed version of this concert emphatically reasserted Krall's jazz credentials after a couple of overly-commercial efforts. The singer/pianist is backed by a small group for the most part, with two tracks getting the full orchestral treatment. Michael Brecker and Christian McBride cameo on Billy Joel's 'Just the Way You Are'.
Buy Amazon
Luna Claudia Acuña 2004 [Maxjazz]
Chilean vocalist Claudia Acuña left the small underground jazz scene in her native country and moved to New York in 1995 in a serious bid to pursue her music. Her third album starts off sounding like soothing Latino-pop, but one soon realises that behind all the beautifully articulated Spanish lyrics there is some seriously good jazz.
Buy Amazon
Careless Love Madeleine Peyroux 2004 [Rounder]
The enigmatic Peyroux waited eight years to follow up her superb Dreamland album because she "took a breather". Careless Love was worth the wait, however, with producer Larry Klein showing that he knows how to make a jazz singer sound popularly modern. The Billie Holiday influence is obvious, but not overbearing.
Buy Amazon
American Song Andy Bey 2004 [Savoy]
How Andy Bey manages to live in obscurity is anyone's guess. He was only 13 when he recorded his first solo album in 1952 and has sung alongside some of the greats. Without a doubt he has one of the finest male voices in jazz today. This record finds him in a melancholy mood, mainly consisting of slower ballads. Romance is not dead.
Buy Amazon
Good Night, and Good Luck (Soundtrack) Dianne Reeves 2005 [Concord]
Songstress Reeves proves to be the perfect choice for the soundtrack to a George Clooney film about legendary TV newsman Edward R Murrow's run-in with McCarthyism in the 1950s. Mostly mid-tempo, but always hitting the mark - Clooney's choice of music is deftly definitive. With the subject matter, 'Straighten Up and Fly Right' was a given.
Buy Amazon
Jazz Vocalists: Hear & Now Various Artists 2006 [Concord] 2CDs
A multi-label dream collection of modern jazz vocals at a bargain price. The first disc features contemporary compositions while the second is choc-full of modern interpretations of standards. Most of the big names are here and even the smoother crossover artists tend to put in fairly bona-fide performances. Proceeds benefit Jazz Alliance International.
Buy Amazon
Nightmoves Kurt Elling 2007 [Concord]
A four year recording hiatus finally saw Elling leave Blue Note and release this fine album for Concord. It has proved a popular move, with the record earning a Grammy Award nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. His longtime fans, however, might yearn for some of the scatty eccentricity as featured on 2003's superb Man in the Air. Tough choice.
Buy Amazon
Loverly Cassandra Wilson 2008 [Blue Note]
In true Delta style Wilson funkifies the blues and smokes up the standards on this outstanding jazz set. Fronting a topnotch outfit featuring modern piano supremo Jason Moran, Wilson sounds more relaxed and confident than ever. There are a couple of soulful heart-wrenchers here and the funky 'St James Infirmary' is not to be missed.
