Mark Lambert
Under My Skin
Challenge Records
www.challengerecords.com
By George W. Harris

Why is it that almost all of the female jazz vocalists sound the same,
but, except for crooners like Buble’, they guys all sound so different?
This guy Lambert has this nice sandied tenor voice that sounds like
he’s been in the crowd of quite a few SC football games. He’s got a
great sense of rhythm to his voice, but what’s most appealing about
this agreeable disc is that it’s just brimming over with great ideas.
Accompanying himself on guitar, he sings along with the trio of Vana
Gierig/p, Matthew Parrish/b, Alvester Garnett/dr and Vinicius Barros,
but even more importantly is the flexible and swinging string Avenue C
Orchestra that adds flavor to everything that it touches. Lambert and
company deliver a cleverly Middle Eastern reading of “I Love Paris”
that sounds like you’re traipsing through the streets of Fez, while the
Brazilian rhythms blow a fresh breeze into “Wee Small Hours” and the
title track. The stark bass/vocal duet that introduces “But Not For Me”
draws you into Lambert’s world, while “Tenderly” has Lambert gliding
through some lovely piano trio work. Not everything works perfectly, as
Cream’s “Sunshine Of Your Love” feels like a forced hand. But, you
hang in there with this guy, cause you can tell he’s trying. “A” for
effort-let’s see him in town!