Morgana King

The veteran jazz singer is master of the low to high vocal dynamics, approaching standards with either a bass-colored emotion or a high, sorrowful tone. Sometimes, as on "Lush Life," she'll switch ranges midway through the tune. This release is a collection of classic standards and popular tunes from the rock era with a spotlight on King's unique, haunting voice backed by ultra-sparse arrangements. Though individual tunes are sometimes strong (she's much more effective on pieces like "Body and Soul" than modern hits like "Through the Eyes of Love"), this is an all-ballad affair, and the lack of rhythmic variation and rich arrangements keeps the 15-track flow a bit stagnant. On the other hand, the collection promises tender moments, and delivers just that. You've probably never heard these songs sung so pristinely by someone capable of wringing every raw emotion out of them. ~ Jonathan Widran, Rovi