Fleurine
San Francisco
By George W. Harris

Wispy yet warm-toned vocalist Fleurine has put out a release that features some top level and reassuring Latinized jazz. Supported by an empathetic band that includes pianist Brad Mehldau, Fleurine caresses lyrics on the soft yet edgy “Love Marks” with disarming charm. Even more at home is she on the various Brazilian tunes. Her duet on the lilting “Encontro” is sweet and seductive; her spacious lingering with simple guitar support on “Tatuagem” is picture perfect in nuance and taste. She has the Brazilian vocal restraint I perfect control, as exemplified on the delicate reading of “Passagem”. Very little here not to highly recommend for fans of the serene and sublime.