This is a highly engaging duo recording by a Swedish singer who sounds heartfelt without being earnest on a thoughtfully diverse selection of songs. Mårtensson flits from not-too-well known songs by Peter Gabriel and James Taylor through to Jacques Brel and Esbjörn Svensson but it always sounds like Mårtensson. The tone of the recording is intimate, and the silence of her southern Swedish folk background speaks volumes in terms of atmosphere. Mårtensson's understated phrasing and rhythm and Barry Green's perfectly poised, tasteful playing is all about not wasting a note, too. The factthis is as much Green's recording as Mårtensson's (he plays a piano solo version of the Paul Simon song ‘Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard’) demonstrates Mårtensson's modesty but no lack of elegance and poise on her part, not so common a combination in a vocalist. It's all about the songs but Mårtensson has a jazz musician's sense of space, timing and nuances in terms of phrasing. While the repertoire is diverse and you are bound not to be turned on by some of it, it's the mark of a quality singer that Mårtensson can make you like something of songs you wouldn't otherwise be engaged with. And So It Goes could easily turn out to be the best new jazz vocal release of 2012.