Amber Weekes – Pure Imagination
Released – 3 January 2020

Amber Weekes’ biography says she’s a “straight-ahead jazz” vocalist.

She never strays far from that brand, but there’s a lot of versatility in the selections she chooses on this set.

Lightly swinging through most of a baker’s dozen tunes, ranging from Cole Porter to Duke Ellington.  There’s a new standard from Paul Simon (a gospel-tinged “Gone At Last”), and two versions (Ballad and Bossa) of Johnny Mercer’s “When October Goes,” an unfinished lyric picked up and finished by Barry Manilow.

Exceptions are a pair written by Oscar Brown – the classic “Brown Baby,” covered by artists ranging from Mahalia Jackson to Diana Ross over the years.  Trevor Ware delicately backs this one on bass.  You’ve probably never heard Mr. Brown’s classic “The Snake,” performed like this before.  (Yes – that one, made famous in the 70s by Al Wilson.)  Mr. Brown is also represented with “Mr. Kicks,” from a theatrical effort that never made it to the stage in the early 60s.

A pair of duets – Sue Raney joins on “Pure Imagination,” and Mon David on “The Way He Makes Me Feel.”

Backed by a band that sounds bigger than it is, it’s a diverse set, but even with the occasional arrangement that strays, Ms. Weekes brings it back to Main Street.  Credit also to a team of recording engineers, as well as Mr. Ware, who co-produces

This set is highly recommended.