There are vocalists today who carry on the fine jazz tradition while also offering fresh new expressions. I have chosen three albums from the recent works of today’s leading female singers.

#289 Tasteful New Work by Claire Martin

Almost in Your Arms / Claire Martin
(stunt Records STUCD-24062)

Claire Martin is one of the leading jazz singers in the UK today. In her latest album, recorded in 2024, she has chosen only pieces that possess austere elegance and profound depth, allowing us to experience her expressiveness to the fullest. There are no well-known standard tunes included. Claire’s choice of songs, which are not popular but whose quality shines through the more you listen to them, shows her confidence and conviction as a vocalist.

After the opening number with a good beat, ＜I Feel A Song Coming On,＞ the album features gentle, emotional pieces. The title track of the album, ＜Almost in Your Arms,＞ was a hit for soul singer Sam Cooke, but it has been largely forgotten. Claire sings such modest works with all her heart. The album includes songs such as ＜Bitter With The Sweet＞ from Carole King’s 1972 album and ＜This House Is Empty Now＞ written by Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello. The touching expressions in songs ＜Apparently, I’m Fine,＞ written by Claire, and ＜September Song,＞ written by producer James MacMillan, also leave strong impressions on listeners. The well-organized piano trio is enhanced with saxophone, vibes, and guitar, among other instruments, in each song, creating even deeper nuances.

#290 Latest Album by Well Talented Vocalist

My Ideal / Catherine Russell
(Dot Time Records DOTT-9151)

Catherine Russell is a veteran singer with incredible talent and a long career, but I don’t think she has been widely covered in Japan. In the United States, “Harlem on My Mind” (2017), “Alone Together” (2019), and her latest album, “My Ideal” (2024), were all nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Catherine’s father was Luis Russell, a bandleader active since the 1920s, whose band included Louis Armstrong, who at a time took over as conductor of Russell’s band. With such a great father, Catherine also showed her talent from an early age, but it wasn’t until 2006 that she made her solo debut. One of the reasons for this late solo debut was that Russell, with her impressive singing voice, was in high demand by many pop artists and was busy performing in concerts and touring with them. Among the popular artists for whom she has provided backing vocals are big names such as Madonna, Diana Ross, Donald Fagen, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan, and David Bowie, to name a few.

Of course, the blues flows through the roots of Catherine’s singing voice, but it is never nostalgic; it is wonderful to listen to her modern interpretation of the spirit of the good old days. It may be that this modern feeling is something that Catherine naturally picked up from her involvement in the pop and rock music scenes. On this album, Catherine is accompanied solely by pianist Sean Mason, a master of jazz piano with a contemporary sound. Together, they create a perfect musical match. The title track, ＜My Ideal,＞ is a musical song written in 1930. Other songs on the album include ＜A Porter’s Love Song＞ by stride piano master James P. Johnson and blues and traditional songs such as ＜I Don’t Need No Doctor＞ and ＜Ain’t That Love＞ by Ray Charles. Each performance is delivered in a clear and intelligent manner, highlighting the unique qualities of the song and enhancing its appeal.