Don't Talk - Clare Teal Album Review

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Album Review

Clare Teal is the real deal. As many young pretenders mess about purporting to be Jazz singers, Clare Teal shows them the door. She can never be called pretentious – as she plays right into the hands of the purists. Much has been said about the genre, with several cross – over artists using the tag for their benefit. That criticism can never be levelled at thirty year old Teal. Finally she strikes gold with her fourth offering Don’t Talk, becoming the darling of the airwaves with BBC Radio 2’s adult orientated audience. For commercial reasons, she’s been labelled alongside Amy Whitehouse, Norah Jones and Diana Krall – but she’s streets ahead of them in every department.

From the opening drum beats of a rip – roaring Messin’ With Fire, a out and out swinger, you immediately get a feeling she’s rubber stamped her intentions. Mixing standards like Willie Dixon’s classic Just Want To Make Love To You, Duke Ellington’s Mood Indigo with self – penned songs like Falling For You, she proves she’s got the pedigree to stay the course, so much so, Sony have recently beaten off the competition and offered a multi – million pound recording deal – and she’s worth every penny. The voice is highly disciplined, stylish, silky smooth and sensual when required – listen to Cole Porter’s So In Love and feel the emotions ooze out. Giving a backward nod to traditional Jazz and looking forward is the winning combination.

Favourite tracks – the delightfully jaunty When In Rome, and Everything Is You, both of which have a retro - 60’s feel. You Bring The Best Out In Me is the highlight of this exquisite 49 minute experience.

What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life ,a superb love ballad, would be a great single

Best Jazz album in years.

Elly Roberts