Sarah DeLeo
I’m In Heaven Tonight
Sweet Sassy Music
By George W. Harris

Built like a young Ella Fitzgerald, and with a sense of swing to match, Sarah DeLeo has put out her first release since 05, and it’s a tasty gem. Backed by the air tight team of Chris Berfson/g, Mark Bordenet/perc, Brian Charette/org, David Cook/piano, Fabio Morgero/tp, Gary Wang/b and Jay Collins/winds, DeLeo twirls like a New Years Eve noisemaker on the snappy “Rockin’ Robin” and “I Feel Pretty.” She sounds right at home with Charette’s greasy B3. Whimsical, and Ella like by including the intro, she is bouncy on “You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me” but able to let the lights get dim on the nocturnal “No Moon At All”. Covering newer material like Patricia Barber’s “Let It Rain,” she brings an extra pizzaz to the piece, only slightly missing a beat on Oliver Nelson’s “Stolen Moments.” Good sophomore release, and let’s see this lady come to town!