The arrival of a truly great jazz singer on the scene is a rare and wondrous event. I have not heard a vocalist with this kind of musical authority, freedom and vision in many, many years. Her stunning arrangements of such unexpected songs as Barry Manilow\'s \"Can\'t Smile Without You\" show an imagination and depth that is thrilling. Beyond the technical prowess she obviously possesses but never grandstands, Jo brings immediacy and joy to every song she sings. The instrumentation she has chosen is unique and incredibly effective - James Shipp deserves a hearty nod for skillful contributions on both vibes and percussion. (Check out the percussion coda of \'I want to be happy\' the feel good ending of the year!) To date I have been unable to listen to Jo\'s devastatingly honest reading of the ballad, \"February\" without breaking into tears, so keep some tissues near the CD player, or whatever media delivery system you employ. More straight ahead jazz buffs will know within seconds of hearing Jo\'s take on \'I\'m Old Fashioned\" and \"Guess I\'ll Hang My Tears\" that the tradition is in able but always musically adventurous hands. Jo Lawry has scored big with this first CD, and I can\'t wait to hear what she\'ll come up with next, and after that, and after that....and after that...
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I\'ve been hearing buzz about this singer for a while so was excited to finally get her recording and check her out.  There are many tracks here to enjoy but standouts include the (believe it or not) Manilow-associated tune \"Can\'t Smile Without You\"
reinvented in minor (stunning!), \"I Could Have Danced All Night\" (vocal/percussion duo) and Sting’s “Until”.  My favorite track however is one of her original tunes, \"Small House\", which almost makes you want to downsize your home.  This track alone is worth the price of admission to the disc.  It\'s not just about tunes and arrangements though - Lawry possesses a stunning, crystal clear and engaging voice that brings them to life.  I\'m sold – the best disc I\'ve heard this year - Kudos!
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