Secret Love - Scotland on Sunday

South London-born Claire Martin has travelled a long way in developing her talent as a jazz singer, including a brief spell as a singer on transatlantic liners. At least it gave her the chance to raid the Manhattan music stores. Today, she has developed a reputation as an artist of great musicality and versatility. in this album, Martin applies her voice to classics such as 'Secret Love', 'Get Happy' and 'Cheek To Cheek', as well as to more recent material, and easily makes the transition from cool, bluesy jazz to more upbeat tempi in her distinctive, slightly smoky style. Richard Rodney Bennett turns up as arranger and pianist, but it is to long-time collaborator and producer Joel E Siegel, who died this year, that the album is dedicated.