Laura Fygi - "Bewitched"
David Hjortland | Published on 7/25/2023
Laura Fygi – Bewitched (CD only, Verve, 1993)
Not nearly as well-known in the US as in Europe, this Dutch jazz/torch/pop singer is a vo-calist to rank with Diana Krall, Holly Cole, and pretty much anyone else in the genre. Her catalog includes about 15 albums, but if you only have one by her this should be it. A com-pilation CD, it pulls together some of her best work; heart-meltingly gorgeous songs with great backing and production. Most (all?) of these are covers of well-known songs, but are none the worse for that.
Grab a dram of your favorite adult beverage and settle back. The opening cut is “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” and listening to this album you might well do that. Other highlights in-clude “It’s Crazy,” “Good Morning, Heartache,” and “I Wish You Love.” My favorite cut is the almost whimsical “Girl Talk,” one of two cuts on which Toots Thielemans plays a wonderful harmonica line. And for those who may be more knowledgeable about jazz accompanists (as I am really not), Johnny Griffin contributes a superb tenor sax on three others.
The sonics on Verve albums are usually very good, though they’ve been known to turn out an occasional turkey. The sound here is terrific, Verve doing justice both to Fygi’s vocals and the excellent backing musicians. It comes across as quite lush and probably schmaltzy, but when it’s this well done who cares? Not into female vocals? Your loss. Highly recommended.