Alexis Cole, One For All - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (2010) CD-Rip

Vocalist Alexis Cole hasn't found a setting or theme that doesn't suit her. Since arriving on the scene near the turn of the century she's covered a tremendous amount of ground and delivered a good number of well-conceived and beautifully executed albums. Cole teamed up with dozens of A-listers for a charitably-driven Christmas outing, explored the sultry side of the jazz canon, gave voice to the music of baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, put her own spin on Paul Simon's work, shined a light on love songs associated with Disney films, and partnered with guitar icon Bucky Pizzarelli for the classiest of gatherings. And that, believe it or not, is just the highlight reel. She's made it clear that she's not one to repeat herself—no two albums from Alexis Cole are alike—but that's not to say her catalog lacks any ties that bind. Cole's sophisticated yet relatable delivery carries across all of her music, including this winning date.

You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To finds Cole joining forces with hard bop-leaning sextet One For All. Together, they charm with a program of tried-and-true classics laced with individualistic sentiments. In "Golden Earrings" we're given bright swing and real heat as Cole tells and sells the tale. Trumpeter Jim Rotondi circles around her with muted obbligato work, and a number of soloists—trombonist Steve Davis, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, and pianist David Hazeltine—take the baton and run with it. Then there's an unusually sly "I Will Wait For You" that leaves just a hint of doubt in its tone, a "Moon River" stripped of cloying sentiments and recast as a 4/4 swinger, and a "Cry Me A River" elevated through Cole's world-wise delivery. All of those numbers indicate that nobody involved with this album is content with delivering cookie-cutter performances.