Search - Kathleen Holeman :: I'm All Smiles

A definite keeper

Boss | Georgia | 07/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once again, Kathleen Holeman has demonstrated that she belongs in the company of so many of today's great female jazz singers. With "I'm All Smiles," her second CD, she shows a maturity of sound and technique that improves on her earlier effort of two years ago. Among the strong cuts are the title track, "I'm All Smiles," the soulful ballad "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," and the Cole Porter standard "In the Still of the Night." Backed by the talented quartet of Bob Branstetter on bass, Paul Smith on piano, Al Wiley on drums and Ron Fleeman on guitar, Kathleen turns simple phrasing and interpretation into great jazz with a consistently powerful vocal response, including a few instances of good old-fashioned scatting. A few other musicians help her along the way. "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" features the fiddling expertise of Terry Brock and "Close Enough for Love" draws together some outstanding Kansas City-area horns. But as it should be, this CD is about the unvarnished vocal strengths of Kathleen Holeman - clear, comfortable, close. If you listen attentively enough, you'll wonder if she's singing to you. As she did with her first CD, Kathleen wrote one of the cuts, a cute, things-happen kind of tune called "Smile All the While." Is this girl talented? You bet, and then some. In all, this CD is a fine opportunity to meet a busy, lovely jazz singer on her way to the stratosphere."