Linda Presgrave
Inspiration
Metropolitan Records
By George W. Harris

Do you know how much trepidation I go through when I see an attractive blond on the cover of a jazz release? I immediately think, “Diana Krall wanna be; band wagon jumper.” Fortunately, Presgrave doesn’t even sing, she’s a pianist/composer, and she does both amazingly well. On this disc, she delves into The Great Female American Songbook (along with a few of her own) and comes up with a winning combination. Supported by Harvie S/b, and Allison Miller/dr as her working trio, Presgave delivers crisp and suave tunes like “Struttin’ in Manhattan” and “One For Patricia” that are as sleek as an Armani suit. She gives a solo treatment of Billie Holiday’s “Don’t Explain” that is pure bel canto. A handful of tunes have the saxes of Stan Chovnick and/or Todd Herbert for some graceful, buoyant and well arranged tunes like Melba Liston’s “Insomnia” and a Killer Joe-ish “You Know Who.” She closes the disc with her own opus “Rome” that is a full throttle drive, with the saxes pulling out all the stops. This is an impressive work by a lady who needs to come to town!