Sylvia Brooks - Soliloquy (2026)

This is the third time I’ve heard an album by vocalist Sylvia Brooks, with her last one being an impressive “live” session at LA’s Vibrato Jazz Club where worked the upscale club like she owned both it and the valet parking.

This time around, she shifts gears a bit, delving into some deep cuts as well as taking the pen into her own hands, teaming up with composer and arranger Christian Jacob for an album of modern jazz pieces. The supporting cast of Kevin Axt/b, Kevin Winard/dr, Grant Geissman/g, Farzin Farhadi/sax and a vocal choir sound poppish on a creative read of Sting’s “Fragile”, with Brooks going into parlor mode on the obscure Broadway gem by “Moose” Charlap on the deservedly resuscitated “I Was Telling Him About You”. Her voice warbles with delicate precision on a deft and silhouetted “Soul Eyes” and is warm with the tenor saxist on her own “Lizzie’s Dance” teamed with Jacobs, and with their “Talks A Good Game” the band creates delicately intimate nuanced conversations that make you want to lean in to catch everything . Casual and cozy chapters.

She’s performing at Catalina’s August 30, and on October 4 at New York’s DROM, so consider this release an inviting invitation.~ By George W. Harris