Customer Reviews

The Very Thought of You

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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Nicole Henry has the best female voice I've heard since the 1980s triumvirate of Sade Adu, Whitney Houston and Anita Baker. If you liked those gals, buy this CD.

Since the very First listen of this CD "The Very Thought Of You", I have yet to stop smiling from beginning to end. Nicole's command of her vocal instrument is world class. I love the Air in her voice...it brings life to the words. I love her phrasing, the attack and release of each note is perfect. Anybody who is a fan of jazz vocalists...Get this CD. It will surely be one that you will listen to for decades to come. And from Now On. When anyone speaks a sentence referring to, or comparing how great one singer is to another. They will now, and forever, have to include Nicole Henry in those references. And, You Will be dancing, in your living room, in your car or in your head, cause this band Swings. Her trios are world class and will not be topped anywhere.
But don't take my words for it. Run to your favorite retail source or "Add to Cart" service, and hear for yourself. Thank you Nicole for sharing your gift with us. God bless you and yours. And yes, the beauty shines from within.
Always,
Herbie James

In September of '08, Nicole Henry's third album, "The Very Thought of You," reached #7 on the Billboard Jazz Chart. Billboard described her as, "An artist who knows how to make a song her own..., she has a potent voice and her interpretive sense is sharp and distinctive." That's high praise. So, how come I never heard, or even heard of her until a couple of months ago? There's no explaining that - but I'm glad I finally have.

Ms Henry has a warm contralto voice, colored with a pleasing, at least to my ears, "breathiness." As someone once said of Carmen McRae, Ms Henry seems to have almost perfect "articulation" and phrasing - and she has an easy, swinging delivery. She's only been recording since '04, but she is a fully developed, mature singer.

"The Very Thought of You" is a set of mostly standards, including "That's All," "Almost Like Being in Love," "All the Way," and, of course, the title tune. Many critics talk about Ms Henry's ability to deliver a "power ballad," but there's none of that here - Ms Henry handles these songs gently - this is Sunday afternoon music, not music for Friday night.

Ms Henry's back-up musicians are too numerous to mention and I don't see any names that I recognize, (I suspect that they are session players from Miami - Ms Henry's home base), but they are pros and nobody is just mailin' it in. The album seems to have been recorded in at least three separate sessions - but the various groups come together in a seamless whole. The album plays through like a single performance.

The sonics are decent. Ms Henry's voice is nicely presented. Personally, I would have liked her band(s) to be a little more forward in the mix, but there's still some instrumental separation.

In that world of singers of jazz covers, pop, R and B, early Broadway tunes--- and the fusion of it all---- new voices come and go regularly. I love that kind of music, so I listen to most all of them. But sometimes there is a special voice that just stops you in your tracks--- and keeps on doing things vocally that surprise you. Nicole Henry is such a special new voice--- she can power a pop song, but then caress a ballad ever so sweetly. She can do the Latin classic "Waters of March" as if she is Brazilian..........then deliver a Cole Porter lyric like a seasoned NYC cabaret singer. I have all her CDs, and each is better than the last.
Check her out and enjoy one of the GREAT young singers in this country.

This is a great CD by a rising star in Jazz, Nicole Henry! Her treatment of standards and her original is heartfelt and true! Way to go!

I saw Nicole last night at Blues Alley in DC and she blew away a full house with her incredible talent. She combines the emotional force of Anita Baker with the gentle soul of Kevyn Lettau. She performs Sinatra standards with elegant charm and covers Lennon's "Imagine" with amazing grace. You'll love this CD but see her live if you get the chance.

THIS ALBUM IS A COMPLETE GAS, AS WELL AS THE ARTIST. SOME GREAT STANDARDS DELIVERED PERFECTLY