Breath of the Soul

According to her bio, this versatile, supple-voiced jazz singer is a native of the Netherlands and in her childhood traveled everywhere from Spain to Greece, France, and North Africa. On one of her other travels, to South America, her Euro sensibilities must have given way, because her beautifully produced debut is all about the warm embrace of Brazil — by way of San Francisco, where famed vocal/guitar duo Tuck & Patti invited her to a jazz camp following a chance encounter after a show in Amsterdam. Patti Cathcart and Honert co-wrote and perform a hypnotic duet on the uplifting and sensual "Life Is What You Make It," which blends an inspirational pop vibe with the obvious influence of Astrud Gilberto. The disc kicks off in a similarly Brazilian mode, with Honert's torchy, sparse vocals in the intro giving way to an intimate bossa-tinged ballad. Songs like "Spring" follow the pattern, opening with only her exquisite voice before she begins romanticizing over a subtle flute-, piano-, and/or bass-driven ensemble. Certifying her international/Brazilian credentials, she adds a well-read cover of Ivan Lins' oft-covered "Love Dance." Honert edges more toward soulful AC pop on slicker tracks like "Someday," "Hope," and "Away," and tackles some of the best songwriters of the pop era with a beautiful, subtle take on Stevie Wonder's "If It's Magic" and a rousing twist on the Lennon-McCartney gem "Got to Get You into My Life." While Honert's crystal-clear vocals and emotional dynamics would light up a room without a harmony instrument in sight, her California connections come through handsomely for her; Breath of the Soul features contributions from veteran jazz cats Alex Acuña, Abraham Laboriel, Dori Caymmi, Andy Narell, and members of the Turtle Island String Quartet.