(OA2 Records)

Vocalist Sara Leib makes a wonderful recording debut with Secret Love, produced by Matt Pierson. Leib delivers warm, inviting vocals over fresh new arrangements of classic and contemporary tunes. Covered are works by Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein, as well as tracks by Bob Dylan and Ben Harper. Leib devised the new arrangements most of the tunes, with the exception of the title track, re-crafted by her New England Conservatory of Music friends, vocalist Heather Masse (of the Wailin’ Jennys) and pianist Jed Wilson. The production is elevated by the presence of top-notch musician talents, including pianists Aaron Parks and Taylor Eigsti, drummer Eric Harland, bassist Harish Raghavan and saxophonist Dayna Stephen and percussionist Richie Barshay. This is a really nice debut of a great, new talent on the contemporary jazz vocal landscape.