Christina Machado: Gone with the Wind

Christina Machado is one of those newer breed of singers, such as Diane Krall and Jane Monheit, who possess a striking beauty to supplement their vocal forte. And Machado indeed is a talented newcomer to the world of CDs. For her debut album Gone with the Wind, she has selected a program list of familiar material except for her own composition, "Free Yourself".. Her pleasant clear voice is buttressed with a well-honed sense of timing, a good feel for pitch and better than average good range. She is equally at ease with up tempo swingers and romantic, sensuous, ballads. Her vocalizing is bolstered with the presence of some fine musicians. Top rank Nicholas Payton is heard on six tracks, five playing trumpet and one playing trombone (!). His is especially lyrical on "I Remember You" where he and Machado combine to make this one of the more attractive tracks on the CD. Payton also did all the charts which reinvigorate these oft played standards. It was good idea to add a dollop of Brazilian rhythm to "On a Clear Day" . But whoever is pecking away at the wood block is way out of synch with the rest of the group. The singer is also generous in the amount of solo space allowed her fellow performers. Peter Martin shows off some significant pianism on "I'm Old Fashioned" and Brice Winston kicks in with a biting tenor on "Wave". A fine first effort for an up and coming singer who can rely on her voice alone - - but the pictures are pleasant anyway.