Shirley Horn
Few jazz musicians can tease and shape a melody with the elegance and finesse of Horn the pianist, and few can bring such a relaxed conversational tone to songs as Horn the singer. While I Love You, Paris lacks the cohesiveness of her exemplary 1992 outing, Here's to Life, there's plenty of cause for enthusiasm here. Consider a quite wily interpretation of "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?"—unsentimental, matter-of-fact and rimmed with fine vocalese. Horn's range has never been enormous, but she makes the most of every note within reach, particularly on "All Through the Night." And when she does a ballad, for instance, "It's Easy to Remember" or the haunting "He Was Too Good to Me," she manages to be haunting, heartbreaking and self-revealing without being self-indulgent. (Verve)
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