Claire Martin new cd.

New SACD "Too much in love to care" with Kenny Barron Peter Washington Kenny Washington, Steve Wilson.
Been listening to it for the last few days and I am personally
disappointed. Yet Claire's singing is beyond reproach, the musicians all play well, the recording is pretty good, so what is wrong with it?
First the choice of material is a little too obvious, who needs another version of "Embraceable You"?
There is just nothing new. I long for Claire's earlier albums where she
sang sometimes songs that where a little strange but always fun.
I also have the feeling that although the musicians are good, they also brought nothing new to the table. They are just doing a job. Sure Kenny Barron is a great name to have on your CD, but after all is it necessary; they are so many great pianists in the UK (like Dave Newton). In actual fact I think that Steve Wilson on sax is also a little
out of place (too modern) his style is not quite what is required in this context. I would have preferred an Alan Barnes type of player.

I am a big fan of Claire Martin having most of her CD's but I was expecting more, something different, like a "live" recording where one could catch the musicians' commitments and enthusiasm.
Please make no mistake it is a good album, but I am afraid that it will be filed in my CD collection too soon.
A four stars all round.
And BTW this is a Linn SACD, I received the RBCD of Meredith D'ambrosio at the same time and the recording is more to my liking, Meredith piano just sounds so right.

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