While singer
Susie Arioli and guitarist
Jordan Officer usually team up for renditions of
Django Reinhardt-flavored swing classics, Learn to Smile Again is a change of pace. Most of the repertoire is taken from the book of
Roger Miller (although "King of the Road" is bypassed), and this is a surprisingly natural fit since both
Arioli (who has a quietly beautiful voice) and
Officer have a real feel for vintage country/pop/folk music. Assisted by rhythm guitar, bass, quiet percussion, and the background vocals of Jason and Sheldon Valleau, this lyrical and heartfelt effort (which also includes two originals and the vintage "By Myself") is an offbeat success, logical in hindsight if not inevitable. ~ Scott Yanow