Donna Singer - Set Your Heart Free (2020)

Feeling discouraged? A bit burnt out by all the negativity in the news? Tired of the tirades? Hey, put on this album by Donna Singer, and you’ll kick up the enjoyment of life level a few notches. She’ll slap you out of your slumber with an upbeat team of Ranses Colon/b, Brad Keller/p, Adolfo Herrera/dr, Yamin Mustafa/tp, Melton Mustafa Jr/sax and Greg Minnick/g as she comes across like a musical camp counselor.

All of the tunes are from the team of Oren Levine, Mitchell Uscher and Roy Singer, and they sound like they were taken right out of either Sunday School or Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Singer has a nice sass to her voice on the two stepping “Destination Jazz” along with Mustafa’s horn, while the two swing and sway on “Why Should Kids Have All The Fun”. She’s encouraging as she nimbles her way around piano and bass on the easy swinger “When You Have A Dream” and is assuring during “Donna’s Lullaby.” Keller has a dash of Vince Guaraldi on the uplifting “We Can Make A Stand” and gets into a gospel groove for “Your Road”. The real charmer is her teaming with Colon on a Mr. Rogers-ish “My Dear” where you can feel the encouragement and sincerity with every syllable. Take two of these a day and call me in a week!~ By George W. Harris