On My Time to Fly, Harriet Goldberg’s songs, with their sophisticated blend of romantic, ur-bane lyrics and infectious melodies set to swing, bossa nova, or jazz tempos, present themselves as standards that, in an earlier time, could easily have been sung by Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan or Betty Carter. This is the kind of candle-lit jazz you want to have handy for uptown cocktail parties, entertaining dinner guests, or just curling up with that special someone by the fire.

My Time to Fly soars on its first-rate production values, top-drawer arrangements by Billy Novick, and a cadre of talented musicians that would make Harry Connick, Jr. envious. And Goldberg’s handpicked vocalists—Krisanthi Pappas, Dane Vannatter and Lynn Stein—are in top form.

Pappas is at her best ever, doing extraordinary work on six of the recording’s dozen cuts. Unlike her own solo recordings, where she is bright and cheerful, here she takes on a smokier, more sultry tone that is so effective, that if she made a career of it, she could become a household name. She shines especially on “You Won’t Be Breaking My Heart,” where she sinks her teeth into Goldberg’s cutting lyrics (co-written with Bob Levy) with searing theatrical expressiveness and bel canto vocals.

Having hit his stride some time ago, Vannatter doesn’t utter a false note on his four cuts, giving us velvety moments on “And There Is Love” and a warm, buttery vibrato—worthy of Mel Tormé comparisons—melting over the bittersweet lyrics of “From Time to Time.” On Stein’s two cuts, her lilting style provides added color and depth.

But it is the songs themselves that shine brightest here, and when Vannatter sings from the title song, “There’s no denying/I’m ready for this ride,” you know it’s Goldberg’s time to fly.

John Amodeo
Cabaret Scenes
April 2012
www.cabaretscenes.org