Carol Sloane - Whisper Sweet (2003)

While young female singers tend to catch the eyes and ears of the general public, seasoned jazz musicians, critics, and fans are the ones to appreciate a veteran vocalist like Carol Sloane. With over a half century of professional singing experience, Sloane's voice is still magic as she captures the essence of each of the 11 ballads on this High Note CD. Guitarist Paul Bollenback is the major soloist backing her warm interpretation of the bittersweet "Here's That Rainy Day." Paul West's dancing bass propels her through a magical but playful take of "The Lady's in Love With You." Her bluesy, drawn-out rendition of "This Time the Dream's on Me" (a song usually played at a brisk tempo) is backed by pianist Norman Simmons, one of the late Joe Williams' favorite accompanists.

But she pulls out all the stops with her unaccompanied introduction to an emotional "My One and Only Love." She also explores a few older gems, including a polished take of Eubie Blake's "Memories of You" and a surprising bossa nova arrangement of stride master James P. Johnson's forgotten chestnut "Whisper Sweet." Tenor saxophonist Houston Person, who frequently played with the late Etta Jones, is added on several tracks, including a delightful "The Night We Called It a Day." Carol Sloane's magnificent performances throughout this disc will easily stand the test of time. ~Ken Dryden