Caroline Henderson - Made In Europe (2004)

Vocalist Caroline Henderson, a veteran of the pop group Ray Dee Oh and the Dr. Dante theater company, has achieved some acclaim on the Danish music scene, but her sixth solo CD, Made in Europe, will come across as a mishmash to many jazz fans. Backed by the Danish Radio Concert Orchestra, along with some small group recordings, there is a warning sign right away as she narrates the opening to Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life," though her vocals show some promise once she begins singing. Following it is a dreadfully dull pop treatment of "Monday Date" and by the time she reaches Bill Withers' monotonous "Use Me" (made even more irritating by the organ vamp), the CD becomes a lost cause. Stacey Ann Chin's ridiculous slam poetry makes a mockery of James Brown's "It's a Man's World." Henderson's sensuous take of "You're My Thrill," accompanied a lush string background, comes across as too little, too late. While Caroline Henderson may be a hot ticket in Denmark, her overly eclectic CD crumbles by trying to cover too many contrasting styles of music.