The U.S. debut album from jazz vocalist
Cecile McLorin Salvant
, 2013's
WomanChild
is a bewitching, exuberant introduction to this immensely talented young singer. The winner of the 2010
Thelonious Monk
jazz vocal competition,
Salvant
has the technical ability, lyrical sense, and undeniable charisma to sustain a career that could undoubtedly match those of her idols -- who include
Billie Holiday
,
Sarah Vaughan
, and
Ella Fitzgerald
. And while the distinctive influence of all three of these singers is evident here, with
reveals herself to be a genuinely original vocalist with a distinctive timbre, a singer steeped in tradition but with a style and phrasing all her own. And it's not just older artists whom she brings to mind; her reworking of "There's a Lull in My Life" evokes the sultry R&B influence of
Sade
. All of this merely speaks to
's broad musical appeal and ability to integrate influences into her own sound. And it doesn't hurt that she's backed here by an all-star rhythm section of
Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
regulars, including pianist
Aaron Diehl
, bassist
Rodney Whitaker
, guitarist
James Chirillo
, and drummer
Herlin Riley
. Primarily here,
delves into a superb selection of lesser-known standards and original compositions, putting her stamp on such songs as "Nobody," "You Bring Out the Savage in Me," and "Jitterbug Waltz."
even taps into her French heritage on her original composition "Le Front Cache sur Tes Genoux," which features lyrics culled from
Ida Faubert
's poem "Rondel." However, it is the title track, also an original song, that showcases
the best. A bluesy, roiling torch song, "WomanChild" is
's declaration of womanly independence in the face of self-doubt. She sings, "WomanChild falters/Clumsy on her feet/Wonderin' where she'll go/When her time has come/Good she'll never know/Until she comes undone." With
's time has definitely come and despite whatever fears she may have, it's clear she has the talent to go very far indeed. ~ Matt Collar