Smile

EAN/UPC/ISBN Code 783707336626

Manufacture Oasis Recording Inc.

"Smile," Lisanne Lyons"s latest album, reminds us of the magic that can happen when the right singer, the right song and the right accompaniment fall into place. Blessed with a luminous, flutelike soprano, Lyons delivers a collection of cheery themes and dreamy ballads that seem particularly well-suited to her bright tone and improvisational flair. Beginning with Cole Porter"s "I Love You," Lyons gracefully demonstrates that while all jazz vocalists may consider themselves musicians, some are far more musician-like than others. Her fluid scatting and spot-on intonation allow her to fully participate as the fourth member of the John Toomey Trio while harmonizing the melody or engaging in crisp exchanges with drummer Howard Curtis. Toomey, Curtis and bassist Jimmy Masters, who were recently in town accompanying veteran bop-bred vocalist Mark Murphy, are quick to create a nimble rapport with Lyons and are chiefly responsible for the album"s fresh and often challenging arrangements.While the vintage standards, which include "I Didn"t Know What Time It Was," "Put on a Happy Face," and "You Don"t Know What Love Is," easily outclass the more recent pop tunes, even the unusually languid rendition of "Never Can Say Goodbye" and the slow and sultry reprise of "Daydream" manage to cast a romantic spell, thanks in part to guest saxophonist Chip McNeill -- Mike Joyce