On her first two recordings,
Deep Night and
Ev'rything's Made for Love, both made for the Stomp Off label,
Barbara Rosene showed how comfortable and natural she is singing material from the 1920s. Rather than copying her predecessors, she sounds very much like herself.
All My Life moves
Rosene up to the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, displaying her talents as a creative and warm swing singer. Her beautiful voice perfectly fits the material, as does her subtle improvising. Backed by a fine jazz quintet that includes trumpeter Simon Wettenhall, Peter Martinez on clarinet and tenor, and pianist Tom Roberts,
Rosene makes the vintage material sound fresh, lively, and sometimes touching. Among the highlights are such superior songs as "Till Then," "Fools Rush In," "Trust in Me," and "It Could Happen to You." While listening to these tunes, it becomes clear that
Barbara Rosene really knows the meaning behind the lyrics, and she sometimes brings out hidden beauty in even the most familiar songs. Even on the sadder ballads,
All My Life is a musical joy. It is highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow