Clare Teal - Don't Talk (2004)

Don't Talk, named after the Beach Boys' song, is Clare Teal's fourth album, her first with this label, and will come as no disappointment to her growing legion of fans. Combining a mixture of old standards and her own material, the album is a great platform for the Yorkshire woman's talent. Ranging from the big-band sound of "Messin' with Fire", with echoes of Peggy Lee in Teal's vocals, to the delightfully hypnotic samba rhythm and striking guitar solo on "So in Love", Don't Talk is an extremely polished production. Teal puts her own distinctive stamp on covers that include favourites from Duke Ellington and Dusty Springfield. The only disappointment on the album is her version of Etta James' classic, "I Just Want to Make Love to You", but big-band fans may enjoy it. She doesn't shirk from embracing a wide range of styles, including funky soul, Latin rhythms, heartfelt ballads and a '50s sounding "The Music Goes Round and Round", which sounds a lot like the Andrews Sisters in their prime. Teal is riding the new jazz wave that carries Norah Jones and Katie Melua, but this album has a depth and maturity that sets her apart from the crowd. --Amy Anderson