'Quite a few of the Twin Cities female jazz singers are brassy, bluesy, gospel-bred belters, who know their Aretha Franklin as well as their Billie Holiday. The girlish Michelle certainly doesn't fit that outgoing mold. Her understated are is more gentle persuasion, precise storytelling and easy swing. This sophomore CD is an aural charm bracelet filled with swell songs that you haven't heard too often, including Holiday's whimsical "Your Mother's Son in Law." "Swing Brother, Swing" lives up to its retro title, "The Blues as Brewin' finds alto saxophonist Doug Haining ably echoing and updating the great Johnny Hodges, and Michelle's duet with Minnesota Twins keyboardist Ronnie Neuman, "Crazy He Calls Me," is simply sublime.
- Tom Surowicz'
~ Minneapolis Star Tribune |
