From the brassy opener, "Straighten Up & Fly Right," to its close with the familiar "Stormy Weather," all 10 tracks on this debut album are winners.

Angelyna Martinez has a voice like honey, sure to win the applause of the most dedicated jazz lover and win converts to the genre. Delightfully fresh and different, her voice is evocative and haunting.

The album is a collection of standards, and is joyful jazz at its best. And this lovely Latina knows when to belt them and when to whisper like a lover. She's passionate and soulful with an impressive range of octaves and vocal expressions. Whether it be her delightful scat on "It Don't Mean a Thing," a sultry rendition of "Miss Celie's Blues" or the soulful "God Bless the Child," she'll grab your attention.

She began performing at the age of 6, acting on television, stage and in commercials, became a professional singer at 9 and was offered her first recording contract at the tender age of 13. Since then, she's shared the stage with the likes of Lenny Kravitz, sang back up on a world tour with Sybil and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the House of Blues and was a regular at Club Tatou in New York with the Nat Jones Trio. She's currently performing at top venues in Los Angeles.

Hopefully she'll find time for another album soon.

by John R. Lindermuth
Rambles.NET
16 September 2006

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