After flitting around the charts for some months, Emerald’s gleamingly smooth, sassy update on ‘50s cabaret and jazz gets a deserved relaunch with a concert DVD.
It’s been a long haul, but finally Caro Emerald’s sassy, seductively smooth tones - coupled with a dynamic spread of upbeat retro-pop - have made her a serious star.
Her debut uses ‘50s-indebted jazz, cabaret, salsa and samba foundations, updated with contemporary beats and styles, to quietly sparkle.
The whiff of glamourous cocktail bars is expertly mixed with perky Ronson-like trumpets on Dr Wanna Do, scratch-sampling on Absolutely Me, taut disco-infused jazz on new single Stuck, and peppy piano on A Night Like This.
Downbeat French accordion, violins and trumpet are bravely allied to trip-hop beats on the rather excellent I Know That He’s Mine, too.
Now packaged with a DVD of a 19-song concert with the Grandmono Orchestra in Amsterdam, this is a sterling double-header.
4 stars
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