Waves: The Bossa Nova Sessions in Bloomington, MN

After a six-year span since making her final recording for
Concord
, singer
Eden Atwood
's triumphant return to the studio exudes a confidence that some writers think was lacking in her earlier work. With first-rate arrangements by pianist
Bill Cunliffe
and a supporting cast including alto saxophonist and flutist
Pete Christlieb
, guitarist
Anthony Wilson
, bassist
Darek Oles
, drummer
Joe LaBarbera
, and percussionist
Scott Breadman
,
Atwood
delves into memorable tunes by
Antonio Carlos Jobim
(
"Meditation,"
"The Girl From Ipanema,"
and
"He's a Carioca"
) as well as
bossa nova
treatments of
Duke Ellington
's overlooked gem
"Don't You Know I Care?,"
Irving Berlin
's
"How Deep Is the Ocean?,"
the Beatles
'
"The Fool on the Hill"
with equal success. Her playful side comes through in the delightful
"O Pato,"
while she doesn't overdo her emotions when interpreting a bittersweet
ballad
such as
Michel Legrand
"Once Upon a Summertime."
She also wrote lyrics for
Jobim
's mellow
"Carminos Cruzados."
This long overdue comeback release by one of the promising young
jazz
singers to emerge during the 1990s is warmly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden