Kent was part of the 2nd wave of the 90's jazz revival. First recordings 1997.
Suddenly everyone started putting out albums of jazz standards in the early 2000's.
Then everyone moved on.
I really like Kent's version of Little White Lies.
And she does a nice job with More Than You Know.
Both with classy arrangements.
Kent also collaborated songwriting with Kazuo Ishiguro .
Let me know any other Stacey Kent songs you think are aces.
I haven't delved too far. But she has a nice voice.
Other jazz singers from the early 90's jazz revival:
Nnenna Freelon
Sepia Wing & I Thought About You are top-notch.
Holly Cole was also in the initial wave.
I'm not that fond of her voice, but she has sass and a theatrical presentation.
I like If I Were a Bell and the creative On The Street Where You Live. Invitation to the Blues and Train Song are very much Rickie Lee Jones imitations. Cole seems to have fun and it comes through in her songs.
Jane Monheit was in the last wave, first album out in 2000.
I like her sultry stripped down version of Just Squeeze Me .
And love her version of Save Your Love For Me (one of my favorite songs) which really shows off her voice.
Trombonist Sarah Morrow is more in the serious jazz musician category, but her few ballads with vocals are beautiful. Try:
It's Getting Late Now & You Stepped Out of a Dream
Those are on Morrow's terrific first album Sarah Morrow - Standards and Other Stories 2002 .
For some young, recent jazz singers/musicians try Bria Skonberg and Andrea Motis.
Both talented trumpeters who sing. Motis is just 25, from Spain.
I probably should go to Youtube and check out what's there and find more Kent, Monheit, Freelon, Cole songs that I like.
I've already done that with Skonberg and Motis a couple years ago.
