Jazz promoter extraordinaire, Jim Eigo send us a generous bunch of new CDs for our review. Here is what we picked for no particular reasons.

POETRY OF LOVE by ANGELA HAGENBACH: SIMPLY SUPERB!

Photo: The stunning Angela Hagenbach.

WOW! What a marvelous CD. Ms. Hagenbach's luxurious  contralto spans a range of nearly three octaves. This is a powerful singer. All Music Guide's Dave Nathan wrote "If one harbors any doubt about Agenbach's credentials as a jazz singer, listen to her stylistic escapade on "Altos de Chavon." The band kicks off with a chorus, then Hagenbach enters shaping her voice as one of the horns, never uttering a lyric, creating one of the more aurally stimulating tracks on the CD." Maximillien de Lafayette said "Ms. Hagenbach is a world-class singer, elegant, classy and sinfully mesmerizing. La crème de la crème."   The highlights of the album are Never Let Me go and Tell Me All About It. Ms. Hagenbach vocal quality is first rate. Poetry of Love is a magnificent album at so many levels.

THE NEARNESS OF YOU by SARAH DELEO: EXQUISITE!

Photo: Sarah DeLeo delivered a first rate album.

Songs like The Nearness of You and Blackbirds on the album THE NEARNESS OF YOU by vocalist Sarah DeLeo stimulate your senses. DeLeo's voice is vivacious and lyrically rich. This CD is definitely a remarkable achievement. Brian Charette on the piano added magic to the champagne bubbly voice of DeLeo. Diego Voglino on drums did a magnificent job. If you are in the business of collecting first class CDs,  Sarah DeLeo's The Nearness of You should be your best choice.

NEW YORK AFTER DARK by FRANK JACKSON: CLASSY AND VIBRANT!

Photo: Cover of Frank Jackson's New York After Dark CD.

"Homesick for a place I've never been," says jazz great, Frank Jackson as he relates to singing Autumn in New York. That is until November 2003, when Mr. Jackson traveled to NYC to record "New York After Dark" with friend, producer James Williams. New York After Dark is a great and significant addition to the world of smooth jazz. Everything is almost perfect on this album; the harmonious equilibrium between the breathtaking piano music, the elegant and warm voice of Frank Jackson and the eloquent brushes of the drums. You got to buy this album. First rate, all the way. Frank Jackson made the cover of the first edition of World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and Entertainment. Congrats!

Jim Eigo did well by sending us those CDs. Good work Jim!