Make Someone Happy

Sophie Milman exudes confidence in her second CD as a leader, though she draws material from a much wider range of music styles for this session. The singer is still a fine interpreter of standards and show tunes, offering a flirtatious "People Will Say We're in Love" as a solid opener and an imaginative setting of "Matchmaker, Matchmaker" that showcases harmonica player Gregoire Maret and pianist Paul Shrofel. The addition of a droning opening vamp in "Fever" updates Peggy Lee's hit while keeping its hypnotic flavor intact. Arranger Cameron Wallis is added on tenor sax for Milman's torchy interpretation of "Make Someone Happy," while he wrote the bossa nova "Reste (Stay)" in which she negotiates the multilingual lyrics flawlessly. The singer swings like mad in Shrofel's playful "So Long, You Fool." Some of Milman's choices from pop don't work quite as well. Composer Randy Bachman is an added guest for his "Undun" (a hit for the Canadian rock band the Guess Who), though it sounds bogged down. A number of Stevie Wonder's songs have become favorites of jazz musicians, but "Rocket Fever" quickly becomes tiresome and never shakes its pop flavor. Sophie Milman deserves high praise for not playing it safe and taking some chances for this outing, which is warmly recommended. [Linus Canada also released the CD.]