HILARY KOLE — Haunted Heart (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sophistication is the prerequisite for New York City based Hilary Kole, who presents her initial foray into the female jazz singer sweepstakes with a program of immaculately performed standards. Kole possesses one of the cleanest, decipherable, lovely vocal instruments, whose admitted influence stems from Irene Kral and to a lesser degree Blossom Dearie, but even more directly the precision of Chris Connor, and a little bit of spunk from Anita O'Day. Kole is not at all a risk taker on the level of scat, vocalese, or interpolation, but she is rock-solid true to the original established forms of these tunes she loves. She's also picked guitarist and producer John Pizzarelli to assist, while her excellent backup trio is led by pianist Tedd Firth, a player who matches Kole's vocal precision and control with every step, phrase and inflection. When she sings songs like the two-minute swinger "It's Love," the classic "'Deed I Do," or the tune of confirmation "You For Me," she's completely convincing and emoting from her joyous heart. Bob Dorough's "Better Than Anything" rams home this feeling with an exclamation point via her extraordinary enunciation which seems natural, needing little practice. In her more refined moments, Kole interprets the regretful "Blackberry Winter" also playing piano, as if she's truly lived in loss, while the crystalline accompaniment of Firth tries to buoy her maudlin spirit during "What'll I Do?." One of the curveballs in her repertoire is the off-putting, bluesy, "St. James Infirmary" type Tom Waits tune "Old Boyfriends," because she's really gone beyond those relationships, yet they still linger. Oscar Brown, Jr. wrote "The Snake" about all men, but a wise Kole knows better than to abjectly condemn, but keeps her eyes wide open for their slimy tendencies. The approach to these well-worn songs is simple, and her sidemen, especially the minimal playing provided by Pizzarelli in a Freddie Green rhythmic tradition, serves her basic persona well. A beautiful woman in love with a voice to match, many of these tracks reflect the positive aspects of living life aside from the minimal heartbreak. She's moving on well past a haunted heart, and into a potentially satisfying career in music, no matter what her next direction might be.  Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1    It's Love 2:07
Lyrics By – Leonard Bernstein
Music By – Betty Comden
2    There's A Small Hotel 2:41
Lyrics By – Lorenz Hart
Music By – Richard Rodgers
3    'Deed I Do 3:32
Lyrics By – Walter Hirsch
Music By – Fred Rose
4    I Didn't Know About You 3:39
Lyrics By – Bob Russell
Music By – Duke Ellington
5    Better Than Anything 3:01
Lyrics By – David Wheat
Music By – Bill Loughborough
6    Like A Lover 6:27
Lyrics By – Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Music By – Dori Caymmi
7    Blackberry Winter 4:59
Lyrics By – Loonis McGlohon
Music By – Alec Wilder
8    The Snake 3:36
Written-By – Oscar Brown Jr.
9    Old Boyfriends 5:01
Written-By – Tom Waits
10    How Am I To Know 2:55
Lyrics By – Dorothy Parker
Music By – Jack King
11    What'll I Do 5:19
Written-By – Irving Berlin
12    You For Me 2:05
Written-By – Bob Haymes
13    Haunted Heart 4:46
Lyrics By – Howard Dietz
Music By – Arthur Schwartz
Credits :
Bass – Paul Gill
Drums – Mark McLean
Guitar – John Pizzarelli
Piano – Hilary Kole (tracks: 7), Tedd Firth
Producer – John Pizzarelli
Vocals, Arranged By – Hilary Kole