Jazz vocalist
Donna Byrne's animated manner of spinning a lyric is augmented by her warm intonations and acute sense of swing. Here, she garners terrific support from guitarist
Bucky Pizzarelli and saxophonist
Scott Hamilton. The artists project a scenario that might be conducive to an upscale hotel lounge, as
Byrne embraces a jazzy set consisting of familiar standards. She understates an abundance of themes while delving into these compositions with a cool, low-key demeanor amid a few dreamy swing vamps. The musicians whirl through a potpourri of ballads and upbeat numbers with a charismatic edge. On "Shadowland," pianist
Tim Ray sets the mood by counterbalancing
Byrne's whispery verse via a series of introspective musings. Hence,
Byrne receives sympathetic support from
Pizzarelli,
Hamilton, and her rhythm section of choice. The musicians transmit an overall vibe that offers a bit of respite from the daily drudgeries of life. Recommended. ~ Glenn Astarita