Search - Jacqueline Dankworth & James Pearson :: For All We Know

The first four songs of this disc are not very conducive to listening for the influence Cleo Laine has had on her daughter, singer Jacqueline Dankworth. The quartet of tunes--each a spare duet of Dankworth and pianist James Pearson--are engagingly sublime and quirky, with a determined delivery that deflects the eye looking for Cleo influences. The opener is a Nina Simone number, and the other three are based on William Blake's poetry. Dankworth's mum's influence becomes clearly evident on well-known standards like the title track and "It Might As Well Be Spring," which she's probably heard sung all her life by the sassy, world-class soprano. The youngster's hue and tone seem more closely aligned to her father John's alto sax than her mother's high notes. Dankworth's voice has a huskier, more breathy timbre, slightly reminiscent of other young singers from her British homeland, such as Claire Martin, Julia Fordham, and even pop star Lisa Stansfield. Pianist Pearson is much more than serviceable as a foil and partner for the singer, and he upholds his end of this set quite well. The lively cabaret scene in the big cities will welcome this talented newcomer, even if they've never heard of her parents, and jazz fans are also sure to exalt the arrival of yet another fine young singer, especially one who is already in the family. --Mark Ruffin