Veronica Martell - The Art of Intimacy (2005)

With her boldest offering to date, the multi-talented Veronica Martell shows a very different side of her musical personality. The Art of Intimacy features Martell's take on one of love's greatest emotions. Critically acclaimed for her previous long-players Big City Swing and Lucky and singles "Too Young for the Blues" from Jazz: In Celebration of Life (which benefited the American-Italian Cancer Society) and "It's Alright With Me" from Kevin Mahogany's Big Band album, Martell reaches new creative heights. Special guests Tony Viscardo, Hernan Romero, and Trio da Paz add their intimate flavors to several tracks. However, The Art of Intimacy is powered by the contemporary, deeply sculpted vocals and articulate phrasings that Martell has specifically crafted for this record label debut. Her constantly evolving, imaginative storytelling on such songs as "Dreams," "Love Don't Pay the Bills," and "Why Do People Fall in Love?" evokes the essential theme and beautifully expresses her overall philosophy of intimacy.~The Art of Intimacy Review by Paula Edelstein