Taeko: One Love

Born in Kyoto, Japan, Taeko moved to New York in 1998 to begin her musical experiences by studying with jazz/gospel vocalist Juanita Hall who sang with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band and with Jon Hendrick-protege Marion Cowings. For One Love, perhaps the most notable aspect is its use of superior musicians on separate sessions. Harry Whitaker and Misha Tsiganov share piano duties, with either Dwayne Burno or Gaku Takanashi on bass and Doug Richardson, who co-produced the album, as drummer and, on one track, pianist.

The album is bookended by two different versions of Bob Marley's "One Love." Her version of Fragos/Backer/Gasparre's "I Hear a Rhapsody" is most impressive—a tune rarely performed with vocals these days—as is her heartfelt version of the Billie Holiday-associated "Trav'lin Light." For the sake of obscurity, Taeko also interprets Bobby Hutcherson and Doug Carn's "Little B's Poem," as well as Linda Creed's R&B tune, "People Make the World Go Round." There is also a Japanese language "Hosni-no Love Letter," and one tune from Doug Richardson, "Would You Believe." Taeko scats adequately, and somehow pronounces the opening lyrics from Frank Loesser's "I've Never Been in Love Before" as "neverbeen."

While still only an adequate singer, it will be worth watching how Taeko develops in the future.