Listening to the rich, low, and nimble tenor tones of Iqua Colson's vocals on this swinging jazz disc -- the first effort by the singer and her pianist, husband Steve in a quarter century, it's hard not to think of Patti Cathcart from
Tuck & Patti. Much like that duo does with vocal and guitar, the Iqua and Steve balance the strong, swinging vocal passages with lush instrumental passages. The best of these are the fanciful opening tracks, "Hope for Love" and "Drop Me Off in Harlem." Iqua adds a cool scat element to another showcase track, the feisty Latin number "Picante." While Iqua's voice is the centerpiece of the duo's sound, Steve is showcased on the fiery instrumental quartet gem "At the Church Steps," trading fours with
T.K. Blue's irrepressible alto, and on the spirited, blues-flavored "Twist of Lime." After all that wild energy, the plaintive "Regina's Lament" comes as something of a mood letdown, but by itself it's a compelling dash of melancholy. ~ Jonathan Widran