Donna Byrne - Licensed To Thrill (2002)

Jazz vocalist Donna Byrne's animated manner of spinning a lyric is augmented by her warm intonations and acute sense of swing. Here, she garners terrific support from guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and saxophonist Scott Hamilton. The artists project a scenario that might be conducive to an upscale hotel lounge, as Byrne embraces a jazzy set consisting of familiar standards. She understates an abundance of themes while delving into these compositions with a cool, low-key demeanor amid a few dreamy swing vamps. The musicians whirl through a potpourri of ballads and upbeat numbers with a charismatic edge. On "Shadowland," pianist Tim Ray sets the mood by counterbalancing Byrne's whispery verse via a series of introspective musings. Hence, Byrne receives sympathetic support from Pizzarelli, Hamilton, and her rhythm section of choice. The musicians transmit an overall vibe that offers a bit of respite from the daily drudgeries of life. Recommended. ~Review by Glenn Astarita