Claire Martin - Too Much in Love to Care - In Tune International

Claire Martin's reputation as a jazz vocalist is second to none with her past albums usually reflecting diverse choices and a contemporary feel for songs, style and arrangements. After fifteen releases over the past twenty years, Too Much in Love to Care (Linn AKD 390), is finally devited to The Great American Songbook and recorded in New York, Claire is aided by Kenny Barron (piano) who occasionally solo-accompanies Claire, plus Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) and Steve Wilson (saxophone & flute). Her smooth, energetic and slightly edge vocal approach renews favourites 'Embraceable You', 'You Turned the Tables on Me', 'Too Late Now' and [the] Johnny Mandel/Paul Francis Webster standard 'A Time for Love' which is one of the album's highlights. The neglected title number, recorded by Carmen McRae way back in 1954, deservedly resurrects in a gentle Latin rhythm arrangement and, together with effusive notes by Will Friedwald, this must rate as one of Claire's best albums.