Nicholas Bearde's fifth release sees the San Francisco Bay Area vocalist present his first entirely straight-ahead set of songs. Produced largely by the noted pianist and arranger, Nat Adderley Jr., hearing this soul-stirring, beautifully delivered set of nine standards, it's clearly been worth the wait. Following a deeply swinging ‘Come Back to Me’, the album settles into a relaxed ballad tempo, with Bearde luxuriating in the rubato sections that frame a glowing reading of Jobim's ‘Dindi’, and a gorgeous, iridescent reading of ‘Maiden Voyage’. Two songs associated with the classic John Coltrane/Johnny Hartman recording, ‘My One and Only Love’, plus an intimate, piano-vocal arrangement of ‘Lush Life’, are both standouts. Guest alto saxist Vincent Herring lights up a trio of songs with coruscating solos, while Adderley's apposite accompaniment and sumptuous voicings always hit the aesthetic sweet spot. But it's the palpable rapport between pianist and vocalist which elevates Invitation to greatness.