CD Review by Barry O’Sullivan
On her newest recording Hetty Kate sings vintage love songs from the catalogues of June Christy, Julie London and Peggy Lee.With band members,Sam Keevers (piano), James Sherlock (guitar), Ben Robertson (bass), Danny Farrugia (drums) she has returned to her first love, the Great American Songbook, and is carving out a career as one of the country’s foremost interpreters of popular songs from yesteryear.
On this recording Hetty and her musical colleagues have found just the right touch in communicating the vagaries of our experience of love and its complexities.
A technically gifted vocalist she cruises through five star versions of “The Thrill Is Gone”,”In The Still Of The Night “ and “Cry Me A River” keeping close to the melody and just letting her own pure tone and the lyrics work their magic while bringing them to vibrant and exciting life as if each were an expression of her own private thoughts. ”Something Cool” is a perfect example and one of the best tracks on the album, with the sensitive piano of Sam Keevers expertly caressing her vocals along with the gentle brushing of Danny Farrugia’s drums,perfectly blending with James Sherlocks sublime guitar chords,providing a showcase for a torch singer of international status.