CD Review: Erika Matsuo/Obsession

Hummmm!! What a nice surprise. Erika Matsuo has an affinity for our beloved Amer. Songbook. Her solid interpretation-the goal! Her strong delivery-the fruition.  I'm also enamoured to her and her group's sense of swing which is prolific throughout her project. ''Obsessiion'' indeed, is an apt name for her disc! There is a charming reminiscense of an earlier, softer musical era, albeit not old... And still very contemporary in her vocal offerings. I must also address a striking feature of her CD project in that it is obvious that her production is 'delightfully contrived' as it were. Erika sings with an ornate and decorative style of vocalise. She sings with a voice that is dignified with vivid contrasts in both color and timbre. Last, this project fits nicely into today's world of dramatic, thematic, lyrical, genial & certainly transitional vocal stylists.