Close Your Eyes
Catn’round Sound, 2019
8/10
This 4th album from the long running jazz vocalist has Carolyn Lee Jones singing about new love, lost love and forever love as nearly 20 musicians lend a hand across the fluid, engaging and memorable tunes.
The title track starts the listen lively and sensual with flowing rhythm in the jazz setting, and “No Moon At All” follows with a more cautious but no less captivating atmosphere of sublime beauty.
Elsewhere, “That Old Black Magic” gets vocally expressive with an upbeat, festive approach where horns shine bright, while “Love After Midnight” is a romantic offering where muffled horns and crisp percussion illuminate the affair. “Confession”, an album highlight, recruits piano balladry that’s as timeless as it is moving.
At the end, “All Night Long” glides with a cinematic quality to its soothing, agile delivery, and “I Only Have Eyes For You” exits with a dreamy, feel good quality.
Jones pulls of an incredible performance with her multifaceted vocal work, and makes all these tunes her own with her creative jazz approach and cabaret nods. Now over a decade into her career, the songstress just keeps improving with each subsequent record.
Travels well with: Yvette Norwood-Tiger- Love Is; Mad Love- ISH