Ross Lorraine: Heart of Mine: songs of Ross Lorraine

Heart of Mine is well named, as composer and keyboardist Ross Lorraine's compositions are at the heart of this album. But Lorraine takes something of a back seat when it comes to performing, leaving instrumental duties to some of the British jazz scene's leading players, and vocal duties to six of the scene's most talented singers; Claire Martin sings lead on three tracks, is part of the trio of backing vocalists, plays percussion and co-produced the album alongside Lorraine and trombonist Chris Traves. A dozen hearts in all, every one bringing something vital to the interpretation of the composer's words and music.

Lorraine has been writing songs since childhood. In adult life he has made his name in classical composition, but he has always loved what he calls "vocal music" and recorded with vocalist Melissa James on 2012's excellent Day Dawns. This time, vocal duties are shared out between Martin, Gwyneth Herbert, Liane Carroll, Sara Colman, Ian Shaw and Luca Manning. Backing is provided courtesy of Rob Barron on keyboards, Laurence Cottle on electric bass, Mike Walker on guitars and Elliott Henshaw on drums, plus the previously noted Martin and, on "The Name of the Game," trombonist Traves.

As might be expected from a composer whose influences include John Dowland, Henry Purcell, the Gershwins, Lennon & McCartney, Joni Mitchell, and Tom Waits, Heart of Mine is stylistically wide ranging. Lyrically, the songs are more homogenous and generally rather downbeat, speaking of lost love ("Pull You Back," a folksy number featuring Colman's voice and Walker's acoustic guitar), the upsides and downsides of being in love ("Like Love" and "The Name of the Game"), the approach of life's "final act" ("Play On"), or the harsh realities of life for so many people ("A Silent Cry," a soulmate to Ralph McTell's folk classic "Streets of London"). Carroll brings a bluesy edge to "The Waiting Game," a call to grasp the moment rather than wasting the limited time we all have and one of the album's more positive songs.

"Body Language," with smoky vocals from Martin, is a rare example of a more celebratory and sensual song, thanks in no small part to Walker's electric guitar: it is also one of the songs—along with "The Name of the Game," which features Martin along with Traves on trombone—that most readily fit into the jazz part of the musical spectrum. Herbert takes lead vocals on "They're Playing Our Song," a musically upbeat song which bounces along cheerfully like a 1980s hit from Matt Bianco. It is an instrumental contrast to the album's generally more downbeat mood although lyrically it still ends the album on a melancholy note: "Sweet Embraceable You—where did we go wrong?" sings Herbert as Heart of Mine draws to its close.

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