Album DescriptionFrom LA-based, Philly-born vocalist Elissa Lala, luxurious, melancholic, movingly passionate, new takes of songs associated with Chet Baker, legendary icon of West Coast cool, featuring some more-obscure Baker chestnuts, more recent tunes like Elvis Costello's starkly beautiful "Almost Blue" and two well-crafted originals that sound like they're from the Baker songbook. Lala?s fresh, distinctive vocal interpretations are dramatic, striking, and unforgettable. Backed by the sensitive, clean, rich, and simply beautiful sounds of pianist Alan Pasqua, bassist Darek Oles, veteran drummer Sherman Ferguson, and guitarist Johnnie Valentino, Lala?s singular style of improvisation shimmers on every track. Lala?s voice leaves a strong imprint on listeners, even after just one listening. In a jazz world where the true vocal legends are rare and the new crop is over-hyped, the touch of Elissa Lala?s voice is a proverbial breath of spring, demonstrating the maturity and classiness of jazz vocal greats.