Soesja Citroen - Don't Cry Baby (2021)

A top jazz singer from Holland, Soesja Citroen has a high wistful voice, a cool but emotional style, and she is expert at placing notes in the perfect spots. Although in the past she recorded tribute albums to Thelonious Monk and Fred Astaire, on Don't Cry Baby she contributed all 16 selections, both the words and the music. The lyrics are in English and she sings without any real accent. The words are intelligent and deal with such subject matter as melancholy love affairs, the joy of early jazz, a remembrance of a drizzly day, the infectious thrill of dancing to a samba, and a humorous look at plastic surgery. With proper exposure, a few of these songs could become standards in the future, so singers looking for fresh material are particularly advised to explore this ballad-oriented collection. ~ Scott Yanow