“Her silky alto is backed by the deft skills of pro session men, Darrel Grant on piano, Clark Sommers on bass with guitarist Lucas Winter, drummer Mark Ferber and vaunted horn man Thomas Marriot. Baird boldly presents five of her own original compositions along with interpretations of jazz standards, like the lovely “Save Your Love for Me,” the mysterious “Blue Bossa,” and a clever Pop Classic turned into torch song “Still Crazy After All these Years.” The new performance of “As Long As You Need Me,” a tune written and recorded in the '60s by Alex’s late grandmother, Peggi Griffith, an acclaimed torch singer known as the ‘Seattle Darling, ’ is a bonus treat revealing the pedigree of the emerging Baird whose career is following in fine footsteps.”

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“With a voice reminiscent of Stacey Kent, Baird sings with exceptional diction—even on the rapid vocalese lyrics—and she generates a distinctive personality. Baird’s talent extends far beyond vocalese, proven with the next two tracks, “All I Needed” an original soul-soaked ballad about a doomed relationship, and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, where Larry Hart’s lyrics approach the same subject from a different angle. Here, Baird adjusts her vocal timbre to meet the needs of the words. The title track offers a stunning summation of her jazz chops, starting with the delightful original composition, and continuing through a well-crafted scat solo and a fine ensemble chorus.”

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“I love the art of vocalese – I think it’s something unique that jazz vocalists bring to the table, and something that has had a leader in each generation, starting with Eddie Jefferson, then Jon Hendricks, then Kurt Elling… A lot of people dabble in it, but those people really specialized in it. I always felt like I could be that for the new generation of vocalists. It also is a really unique way to get your thoughts out – it’s like an original song on steroids. Something about having to match the syllables to the notes really helps me spit out things that I might not necessarily share if I didn’t need to fill the space. I have plenty more that I’m excited to keep sharing.”

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“I’ve done a lot of work in therapy over the past year and a half, and I’ve learned so much about myself along the way. Depression and anxiety are present in all of us, however they present, and learning to work with myself on how to pull myself out of low slumps or just work with myself and accept it are new muscles I’m working to strengthen. Shame and guilt can be major roadblocks, in any part of our life, and musicians are never really ‘off-work.’”

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“The songs tell incredible stories, rich in language and poetry – full of heart and soul.”

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“As suspected, Alex came off as very charming and sweet with every question I asked but also let her personality shine. Getting to know her a bit more definitely sheds a new light on the entire album and I am so excited to go back and listen to it again while eating a black bean crunchwrap from Taco Bell in solidarity with her!”

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“With a style that sits at the forefront of contemporary vocal jazz, Alex Baird takes her place alongside the modern singers who are reinvigorating the jazz idiom.”

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