A top
jazz
singer from Holland,
Soesja Citroen
has a high wistful voice, a cool but emotional style, and she is expert at placing notes in the perfect spots. Although in the past she recorded tribute albums to
Thelonious Monk
and
Fred Astaire
, on
Don't Cry Baby
she contributed all 16 selections, both the words and the music. The lyrics are in English and she sings without any real accent. The words are intelligent and deal with such subject matter as melancholy love affairs, the joy of early
, a remembrance of a drizzly day, the infectious thrill of dancing to a
samba
, and a humorous look at plastic surgery. With proper exposure, a few of these songs could become
standards
in the future, so singers looking for fresh material are particularly advised to explore this
ballad
-oriented collection. ~ Scott Yanow