Deborah Swiney - I Remember Rio (2017)

Deborah Swiney brings a strong and Sarah Vaughan-esque voice to deliver soulful reads of Brazilian on this infectious release. The team of Ed Finney/g, Tony Thomas/p-org, Sam Shoup/b, Tom Lonardo/dr, Lannie McMillian/wwinds, Carolyn Wright-Chatman/voc and Felix Hernandez-Ekpe Abioto-Barry Ford/perc mix Southern Soul with samba on earthy reads of “I Remember Rio” and an urgent “The Girl From Ipanema.” McMillian’s tenor is sensuous along with Swiney’s rich vibrato on the samb’d “Dindi” and his flute adds exotic textures to the percolating poise of “So Nice.” Jeffrey Boga’s violin brings a gypsy mood as Swiney saunters during “Bossa Nova Casanova” while the mood is lush for “Corcovado” and the lady delivers a delectible “Agua De Beber.” Strong and Sassy in more ways than one.~ By George W. Harris