Shirley Horn: You're My Thrill

It's always a thrill when Shirley Horn releases a new album. She's the kind of living legend that you would and should make every effort to see perform live. Imagine being a jazz fan when Louis Armstrong was alive and touring.

Horn has said in interviews that she tries to paint a picture in her songs. Her jazz is a water-color painting of flowing brushstrokes. She stylizes her arrangements with long, lazy notes and rests and wanders through the path at her own speed. As if, perhaps, she's savoring it.

The piece de resistance of the album is "Solitary Moon," a lush, dreamlike five-minute track. Her cover of "The Best is Yet to Come," is loungy, not quite as sexified as Sinatra's version. Her swingy version of "Why Don't You Do Right" is a fun Ellingtonian romp.

If you're not familiar with Horn's music, she's a must-have for her artistry. If you're already a die-hard fan, pick up this album for your collection.