Soesja Citroen - Yesterdays (2021)

Spanning 1984 through 1988, Yesterdays is a collection of previously released material that draws on three of Soesja Citroen's albums: Angel Eyes, Soesja Citroen Sings Fred Astaire, and Soesja in Silk. The thing that all 16 of these tracks (which Challenge licensed from Varagram) have in common is the backing of the Metropole Orchestra. Embracing such well-known standards as "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Night and Day," and "The Way You Look Tonight," the Dutch vocalist does what everyone from Billie Holiday to Wes Montgomery did before her, enjoying the lushness of a string orchestra. Over the years, the "jazz with strings" concept has had its share of detractors. Many jazz purists have argued that it's best for jazz artists to stay away from strings and leave them to pop artists, but those who say that are simply being dogmatic. Strings, in fact, have their place in jazz; Artie Shaw proved this back in the 1930s, and Citroen reminds us of this fact on the pleasant, if conventional, Yesterdays. It's true that these more arranged sessions don't give Citroen as much room to improvise and that she has been more adventurous and risk-taking elsewhere. While these aren't among Citroen's more essential recordings, they're enjoyable nonetheless. ~ Alex Henderson