This highly spirited jazz/big band vocal project should be a prime inspiration to those who believe in the adage "better late than never." The Detroit-born singer and pianist (dark-haired, much older and sassier, but every bit as hip and hot as
Diana Krall) was discovered by Variety's legendary Walter Winchell and was a legendary Manhattan club singer in the '50s and '60s (later touring the world), becoming the only female jazz singer to lead a big band. She took a few years (OK, 30) to raise a family, then came back in the '90s to do Carnegie Hall and do a show for
Aretha Franklin. Her one missing achievement was a recording of her own, and this instant classic makes up wonderfully for lost time. Since we're daring to mention modern jazz sensation
Krall, compare the wry humor
Thompson puts into her version of "Peel Me a Grape" to
Krall's staid version and you'll see that
Thompson definitely comes from another era. The brass section behind her seems to be in on the laughter and wit. Other tunes, like the swinging title track and lush ballad "If I Could Be With You," bring to mind the powerful and grand presence of
Rosemary Clooney -- able to be deep and intimate while at the same time robust. The packaging features pictures of
Thompson from years ago and others from the time the album was released. She seems to be an ageless wonder in more ways than one. ~ Jonathan Widran