Sarah Partridge dedicated her
You Are There CD to her late father. She performs songs that he loved, tunes he might have loved, and numbers that she wished she could have sung for him. Some of the performances are quite touching, most noticeably "My Buddy" and "We'll Be Together Again," but this is more a celebration of his life and of
Partridge's jazz abilities than a downbeat affair. While a few of the songs seem unnecessary, most noticeably an odd boogaloo version of "Stormy Monday Blues" and a re-creation of
Joe Williams' blues phrases on "Roll 'Em Pete," highlights include a rhythmically tricky rendition of "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "Lullaby of Birdland,"
Dave Frishberg's haunting "You Are There" and "Stars Fell on Alabama."
Daniel May leads a fine rhythm section (with Tony De Paolis and Jeff Grubbs alternating on bass) and trumpeter
Sean Jones has three welcome guest appearances. A nice CD overall by a subtle and skilled jazz singer. ~ Scott Yanow