I Thought About You
Scooter, 2023
8/10
The inimitable vocalist Jan Cronin brings her sultry pipes to this stripped back listen where Andy Reiss and Jim Ferguson accompany her across 10 selections from the Great American Songbook.
“S’wonderful” opens the listen with Ferguson’s frisky bass and Reiss’ spirited guitar alongside Cronin’s warm singing, and “The Shadow Of Your Smile” follows with a cozy intimacy that’s expressive and romantic, as Cronin’s smooth voice is quite inviting.
“The Scent Of Breakfast And You” arrives at the halfway point, and showcases the meticulous bass playing as Cronin’s vivid storytelling shines bright, while “Peel Me A Grape” puts Reiss’ gentle guitar front and center in the delicate, rhythmic album highlight.
“Lullaby Of Birdland” and “Some Other Time” exit the listen, where the former is playful and illustrates Cronin’s impressive range, and the latter is an emotive and calm finish to a very thoughtful body of music.
Cronin brings a lifetime of experience and much talent to the listen, where her past in pop, blues and rock certainly give her a unique perspective on this primarily jazz affair that can swing adventurously, just as it can land in heartfelt balladry.
Travels well with: Vanessa Racci- Jazzy Italian; Aimée Allen- Love & The Catalyst