New Yorkers have a chance to discover a dazzling new singer, British jazz bird, Claire Martin, appearing at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room to close the 2006-2007 season. A multi-award winner in the UK, and followed by a coterie of appreciative fans, Martin currently salutes the late Shirley Horn with her new CD, He Never Mentioned Love.

Martin possesses a versatile and potent alto voice that weaves a tapestry of tempos and moods. With the creative and able backing of musical director/pianist, Gareth Williams and bassist Laurence Cottle, she intermingles moody ballads like the title song, with the dizzying up-tempo swirls of "Cheek to Cheek." Meandering around the beat, she doesn't swing, but keeps time eloquently, and keeps the vocal line moving. She stretches the tune to get to the lyric of "He Never Mentioned Love," which is examined from all melodic aspects. This can, however, sometimes feel overdone.

Martin chooses from an eclectic song list and gives each tune a personal interpretation. While technically impressive, however, Claire Martin is not yet in the emotional realm of Shirley Horn or her other idol, Carmen MacRae, but aficionados of jazz vocalizing have an intriguing new career to follow.

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
June 26, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org