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Review: This is an era of many wonderful new female jazz singers. Besides the Cassandra Wilsons, the Vanessa Rubins, the Diana Kralls, and such, we also have had four wonderful debut albums in the past year: Stacy Kent, Tierney Sutton, Sarah Partridge and the Seattle-based Kelley Johnson, whose maiden voyage is titled "Make Someone Happy." It is on the Sapphire label and Kelley covers a wide spectrum of songs ranging from the well-known (Solitude) to the obscure (A Little Tear). Kelley even managers to breathe new life into the old Gershwin chestnut "How Long Has This Been Going On?" But the CD highlight is her version of the little known "I Haven't Got Anything Better to Do." She sound a lot like the late Irene Kral on this particular cut. Fred Hersch is one of those jazz artists who enhances any recording with which he is associated. His presence on Kelly's debut is a definite plus. He served as producer as well as pianist. The band that he assembled is Rolls royce all the way: Lewis Nash on drums, Steve Wilson on alto, Larry Grenadier on bass, just to identify a few. Lots of singers are clamoring for attention, but few have the savvy and sophistication of Kelley Johnson. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by: Roger Crane

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