Jackie Allen - Never Let Me Go

Jackie Allen's vocal style falls somewhere between jazz and cabaret. She swings nicely on the medium-tempo selections during her well-rounded debut but she also takes many of the ballads quite straight, bringing out the beauty of the lyrics but adding little of her own to the songs. Greatly assisted by pianist Willie Pickens with guest spots for the tenor of Edward Petersen and fluegelhornist Art Davis, Allen is at her best on "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and "Detour Ahead" but less interesting on her own occasionally precious originals. ~ Scott Yanow