Robin McKelle’s latest CD is aptly named: With her brassy, fierce voice, she brings bright new life to some fantastic classic songs, refreshing and reviving them. Much like Julian Yeo did on his albums, McKelle revels in the pure old-fashioned-ness of her style, making the classic contemporary. Blending the smoky, torchy sounds of Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Lady Day with the raw energy and power of Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin, she growls, purrs and wails her way through such songs as “Abracadabra,” “Comes Love,” “Cheek to Cheek” and “Make Someone Happy.”

Her plaintive “I Want to Be Loved” ranges from a passionate, soulful cry to wistful wishing, while “Cheek to Cheek” is bright and charming. “Abracadabra” opens the album with a swingy, scatty energy, and “Save Your Love for Me” is cool and sensual. The album’s fiercest number is the hot salsa arrangement of “Comes Love,” which McKelle sings with a knowing, ironic air. The musical ensemble creates a delightfully rich sound that nicely complements McKelle’s vocals. Whether emphasizing strings or brass, the arrangements range from intimate cabaret to full big-band, and match each song’s emotional arc beautifully.

If there is any complaint about the album, it would be that at eleven songs, it seems rather short. The jazz world needs young singers like Robin McKelle to keep the art form alive and vital for another generation, and with her intense energy and powerful voice, she could do justice to just about any song she takes on.

Jena Tesse Fox
Cabaret Scenes
September 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org