Patti Wicks Trio: Dedicated To...

Pianist/singer Patti Wicks started out in New York City, moved to Florida and then each year or so since 2004 has rendezvoused with her Italian rhythm section of bassist Giovanni Sanguineti and drummer Giovanni Guillino in Italy to record successful trio sessions supplemented with a horn, typically a saxophone. For 2005's Basic Feeling (Studiottanta-Fortuna), Wicks was joined by alto saxophonist Claudio Chiara, while The Italian Sessions (2007, Studiottanta-Fortuna) joined Wicks with tenor saxophonist Gianni Basso and, in 2008, she went it alone with her trio for It's A Good Day (Geco Tonwaren)

Wicks presently finds herself with her stalwart rhythm section joined by tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton on Dedicated to..., a collection of instrumentals and vocals that are in keeping with Wicks' and Hamilton's recent output. The two alternate pieces, with Hamilton playing on one and Wicks singing the next ("The Song is You" and "The Very Thought of You," for example), while Wicks tosses in a straight trio instrumental with the closing "Lela."

Wicks finds, perhaps, her most empathic horn player in Hamilton, whose gentle, sure swing and large, soft tone meld well with Wicks' exceptional piano playing. It is obvious that the two enjoyed one another much while recording these pieces. Wicks' singing is forever a marvel, treading somewhere between Rebecca Parris and Shirley Horn. She transforms "The Very Thought of You" and "You're Getting to Be a Habit," with her deep, single-malt voice, into songs sure to have been divinely whispered in her ear as she sang.