
New York based jazz stylist ERIN DICKINS was a co-founder of Manhattan Transfer and at the end of March she releases her latest solo long player, ‘Vignettes’. The ten tracker, released on the wonderfully named Sizzle and Swing label, is an interesting concept on which Ms Dickins sets out to show her range, diversity, and vocal artistry via an eclectic selection of covers on which she’s joined by an equally eclectic guest list.
On some of the tracks Erin is accompanied solely by the guest. So on the lovely Frankie Laine ballad, ‘We’ll Be Together Again’ it’s just Erin and pianist Stef Scaggiari while on the cover of Annie Ross’ ‘Jackie’, it’s Erin accompanied by Hawaiian bassist Bruce Hamada.
Elsewhere –,as on Sam Cooke’s ‘Wonderful World’ – there’s a bigger group of players (featured guest here is ex Steely Dan guitarist Elliott Randall) while on a version of Serge Gainsbourg’s ‘Black Trombone’ Erin’s backed by a full orchestra marshalled by Drew Zaremba.
Amongst album standouts are takes on Francis Albert Lai’s ‘A Bicylette’ (Rob Mounsey guests on piano) and Jobim’s tale of love and loss, ‘O Grande Amor’. Here Erin is joined by just David Friedman’s beautiful vibraphone.