Carolyn Lee Jones - Eklektika (2026)

Vocalist Carolyn Lee Jones takes on jazz standards both new and old on this album self described as “Jazz Retro Pop Bossa Nova”. All the boxes are checked here, with Jones cutting and pasting with a team of Brad Williams-Peter Rioux/p, Willie Wrinkle-Yong Heo-James Driscoll-Jonathan Fisher/b, Roger Boykin-Todd Parsnow/g, Andrew Griffith-Jorge Ginorio/dr-perc and Shelley Carrol-Mario Cruz/ts.

Ms. Jones shows her comfort in intimacy with Williams on a cozy duet of “Hearts Desire” as well as with Rioux for a heartfelt “Embraceable You”. She could have done well with an entire album like these, but she loses nothing when bringing in the band as Carrol adds a soft light to “Tell Me All About It” and joins with Jones on a luminous “Out OF Nowhere”. She gives a modern feel to “Skylark”, filling it with confidence around Williams’ keys, whereas “Detour Ahead” is comfy chair relaxed. Ms Jones has a good thing going, and this one isn’t wrong.~ By George W. Harris