Jazzwise

A fixture on the jazz scene since her professional debut in 1997, and also receiving airplay on Jazz FM, vocalist Georgia Mancio’s undeniable strengths lie in her lightness of touch, restrain and absolute clarity. On this disc the singer demonstrates a clear penchant for the muddier side of things, notably her choice of the two Latin standards, the Jobim/Moraes classic ‘Chega de Saudade’ and ‘Estate’ by the two Brunos (Martino and Brighetti).

The trio arrangement of ‘The Things We Did Last Summer’ –  voice, piano and a most beguiling bass flute solo from Gareth Lockrane – has a great bounce and marks the high point of the album. The band generates sparks in Cole Porter’s ‘Get Out Of Town’, Lockrane again providing an exquisite solo. Mancio seems entirely at ease here, grabbing the lyric by the scruff of the neck and delivering the most confident performance of the collection.