(Jazz Village)

Catherine Russell is back with another outstanding effort. Harlem On My Mind finds Russell returning to the Jazz Age songbooks which have been integral to her recent productions. The effort covers works written or co-written by Ray Noble, Fats Waller, Dinah Washington, Benny Carter, Jimmy McHugh and Joe Seneca, among others. The singer is as powerful and precise as ever, breathing new life into every word as if they were written yesterday. The arrangements are stellar and the musicianship equals the standard of Russell’s previous efforts with many of the same talents joining her again. The player personnel includes Matt Munisteri on guitar and banjo, Mark Shane on piano, Tal Ronen on bass, Mark McLean on drums, Jon-Erik Kellso and Alphonso Horne on trumpets, John Allred on trombone, Mark Lopeman, Andy Farber and Don Block on saxophones, and Fred Staton making a guest appearance on tenor sax. First rate effort all around and Catherine Russell is always a joy to hear.