Jacqui Dankworth – Back to You – Top Music Ultra Disc stereo-only SACD UD-SACD 8937.2; Sound ****1/2 Music ***½:
(Musicians: Malcolm Edmonstone, Chris Allard, Alec Dankworth, Dudley Philips, Roy Dodds, Ralph Salmins & Anthony Kerr)
Jacqui is English jazz/pop singer, with an impressive pedigree. She is the daughter of jazz musician/composer John Dankworth (who died this year) and well-known jazz singer Cleo Laine. This is a 2010 release from Audacious Records that has been remastered for SACD by Top Music. The album contains 12 cuts, of which six are written or co-written by Jacqui. Other songs on the album were written by James Taylor, Randy Newman, Foy Vance, Keb Mo, and Sting. The music is easy-listening/jazz/pop in nature.
The sound quality of the album is very good. Her voice is well-centered , with a good image and sense of presence. She presents a straight forward version of the music. I would have liked a little more feeling in her singing. The backup instruments are very well recorded with a good balance with Jacqui. The recording will not excite the superficial high-end audiophile. There is not a whole lot of low bass or tinkling highs. However you are hearing sound like real music played in a real room, making this is a very good album. Some people may however feel it is a bit too easy-listening.
The album was made in Japan. It was recorded in 192K/24-bit and then mastered using the Sadie DSD 8 Series 5 system.
TrackList:
1. The Secret Of Life
2. Underline Our Love
3. Every Time It Rains
4. Rushing On
5. One Friend
6. Change Your Mind
7. (Walking) Back To You
8. I Was Brought To My Senses
9. Prayer For Peace
10. Beppo
11. Please Answer
12. Galileo
— Clay Swartz
