Album: Here With You /  Artist: Libby York /  11 tracks / Jazz Vocals / Available Now

On the back of the CD jacket for Libby York’s new CD Here With You, jazz guitarist Russell Malone is quoted as saying, “Libby, you sing like an angel. Don’t ever stop.” After listening to a few eloquently expressed phrases, as York sings Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne’s, “I Love Being Here With You,” you will find yourself nodding in agreement with Malone’s comments. Her vocals are full bodied without being loud or brash. She exhibits a quiet strength that is nicely complimented on “I Love Being Here With You,” by Howard Alden’s elegant acoustic guitar and on three other songs by Malone’s equally graceful playing.

A native of Chicago and disciple of Abbey Lincoln, York possesses exquisite vocals, which stir romantic feelings within the listener. Each of her phrases kisses you, like a lover who understands the difference between wooing another, versus simply trying to impress.  It is to that end that Lincoln serves up the Kaye/ Springer bossa nova flavored “The Day The World Stopped Turning,” and “For All We Know.”

Four years have elapsed since York released her CD Sunday In New York and Here With You, and Ms. York we have missed you.  If York is going to continue to gift us with splendid duets such as, “Walkin’ My Baby Back Home,” recorded for her current CD with New Jersey native, Warren Vaché, then four years is much too long. The playful dynamic between the gravelly, deep voiced Vaché and York’s sweet vocals is delightful. Vaché, who has shared the stage with Hank Jones (drummer) and tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims, also plays an emotive cornet solo. Alden weaves more of his acoustic magic, while drummer Vanderlei Pereira plays gently, making liberal use of his brushes and snare drum.

York’s unpretentious vocals become the brushstrokes for the lyrics to Wilfred Douchette and Donald Wolf’s picturesque “Azure Te (Paris Blues),” a tune which has been recorded by the likes of Nat King Cole, Karrin Allyson and Frank Sinatra. However, surprisingly, after those three big names, relatively few artists have covered “Azure Te (Paris Blues,” therefore, York’s inclusion of the song on her album, Here With You, is a lot like discovering buried treasure. Russell Malone who is comfortable performing in a number of jazz idioms plays a pretty solo.

Libby York self produced Here With You, and she was assisted by Juno Award winning jazz pianist, composer and arranger Renee Rosnes. Dave Kowalski engineered the project at Bennett Studios in New Jersey. Here With You strikes a perfect balance between vocalist and musicians. None of these songs come across as self absorbed or pretentious. Libby York once said that Abbey Lincoln taught her to sing with soul, and that is what she brings in abundance to a collection of pretty tunes, which she performs beautifully.

Reviewed by Joe Montague for Riveting Riffs (www.rivetingriffs.com)

Reviewed May 2008

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