Teraesa Vinson: Next to You

Teraesa Vinson sings her program from the heart with a genuine air. She convinces. As an experienced storyteller, she puts you right in the lap of each experience. "Being Green, for example, carries a wider meaning than what you hear on the surface. In Vinson's care, its lyrics stretch out to cover it all. The same is true for her sensual ballads and up-tempo swingers.

Working in a duo format with guitarist Tom Dempsey for this, her second recording, the singer has opted for a cross-section of material, from Ellington and Jobim to Stevie Wonder and Oscar Brown, Jr. Her program and her musical format are designed for intimacy. She delivers the message clearly while Dempsey provides exemplary accompaniment. Together, they establish a comfortable blues aura that surrounds their performance with class.

Vinson remains comfortable with all kinds of songs. "Ribbon in the Sky introduces built-up emotions, while "Just Squeeze Me saunters idly through swing. McCoy Tyner's "You Taught My Heart to Sing brings tears to the eye, while Dempsey's "Next to You settles in comfortably with cool passion. Vinson has mastered each mood accurately and musically. She and Dempsey keep most their session mellow and laid back. The comfort allows them to deliver meaning naturally.

Old Devil Moon stands out with an emotional surge as the session's high point. Here, singer and guitarist turn it up a notch through tension and release. Their balance points them in the direction of cohesive success as the two intertwine naturally. Vinson and Dempsey share a deep love for the music that comes reflected in each interpretation.