Wesla Whitfield - Livin' on Love (2006)

Wesla Whitfield has long had a beautiful voice and excelled in swinging jazz, cabaret music, and music that falls between those two areas. Usually she is accompanied by pianist Mike Greensill (her husband), bass, and sometimes drums. On eight of the 13 selections of Livin' on Love, the singer is also joined by Gary Foster on reeds and four French horn players. The other five numbers have her assisted by a quartet with Foster. Greensill provides the tasteful arrangements for the French horns while Foster has many concise solos, sounding a bit like Stan Getz on tenor. But the main reason for this set's success lies with Wesla Whitfield, who sings with sensitivity, light swing, and beauty throughout the 11 standards and two obscurities. ~ Scott Yanow

Personnel: Wesla Whitfield (vocals); Gary Foster (flute, alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Alicia Telford, Eric Achen, Keith Green, Bill Klingelhoffer (French horn); Mike Greensill (piano); John Wiitala (acoustic bass); Vince Lateano (drums).