Madeleine Peyroux made a bit of a stir in 1996 due to her voice sounding remarkably close at times to
Billie Holiday's. This wide-ranging set features
Peyroux singing swing standards, originals and tunes that hint at country and folk music. Her supporting cast, which changes on each selection, includes a restrained
James Carter on tenor and bass clarinet,
Marc Ribot on dobro and guitar, trumpeter
Marcus Printup, pianist
Cyrus Chestnut and violinist
Regina Carter, among others. A very interesting release which, despite the derivative nature of
Peyroux's voice, is full of surprises. Highlights include "Walkin' After Midnight," "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," "La Vie en Rose" and "Muddy Water." ~ Scott Yanow