[Dixielandjazz] Catherine Russell reviewed - Washington Post, April 13, 2012

[Robert Ringwald]

Catherine Russell: Strictly Romancin'
by Mike Joyce
Washington Post, April 13, 2012
Vocalist Catherine Russell is almost always in the mood to woo or be wooed on "Strictly
Romancin'," an engaging mix of standards and novelties that reach back to the dawn
of the Jazz Age. Louis Armstrong, Hoagy Carmichael, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington
and Billy Strayhorn are among the artists who inspire Russell's consistently soulful
and sure-footed interpretations.
If the veteran singer sounds at ease with these songs, that's because she is. Her
father, pianist and bandleader Luis Russell, was a close associate of Armstrong's,
and her mother, Carline Ray, is an alumna of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
So this album is something of a family affair, focusing on songs that never have
lost their romantic allure and rhythmic zest.
Picking favorites isn't easy, but some songs are almost impossible to shake after
hearing them so evocatively arranged. Retro excursions are seldom as much fun as
listening to Russell reinvigorate "I'm Checkin' Out, Goom'bye," an Ellington-Strayhorn
delight. The same goes for Mary Lou Williams's "Satchel Mouth Baby."
Supported by a seasoned lineup, Russell also warmly personalizes the classic pop
ballad "I'm in the Mood for Love," turns torchy and blue on Ivory Joe Hunter's "Don't
Leave Me," and salutes Sister Rosetta Tharpe with the gospel-charged "He's All I
Need." The last features Russell's mom singing harmony -- a nice touch.