Journeyman vocalist
Ernie Andrews soars on the momentum achieved on his previous disc,
Girl Talk, with his third High Note release,
Jump for Joy. Featuring his usual partners in crime, tenor saxophonist
Houston Person, pianist
Aaron Graves, bassist
John Webber, and drummer Alvin Atkinson,
Andrews showcases his superb sense of timing and regal "seen-it-all" style. Recalling both
Carmen McRae and
Ray Charles, the Philly native digs into an earthy and joyful "Sweet Lorraine," imbues "You Are Too Beautiful" with a bittersweet maturity, and fills "Solitude" with the bluesy melancholy of a life truly lived.
Jump for Joy indeed! ~ Matt Collar