By stripping away the rhythm section and horns of her debut, Freedom Flight, this second album from the New York-based vocalist, arranger and composer Nicky Schrire focuses the attention entirely on the voice and the song. The song list ranges from cherished standards by Gershwin (‘Someone to Watch Over Me’) and Berlin (‘Say It Isn't So’) to the beguiling simplicity of Charles Trenet's ‘I Wish You Love’ and Massive Attack's ‘Teardrop’. Penned by the late South African bassist and composer Victor Ntoni, the gently pulsing groove of ‘Seliyana’ is another highlight. Schrire contributes four fine originals, with the multi-tracked vocal harmonies at the end of ‘And So I Sing’ being absolutely unforgettable. The singer's varicoloured song arrangements are performed by a sublime trio of pianists – Gerald Clayton, Gil Goldstein and Fabian Almazan – and the recorded sound is balanced to perfection. Vocal jazz doesn't get more intimate than this.