Love on the Tyrrhenian Review

by Abe Goldstien
PAPATAMUS REDUX

On her latest release, Love on the Tyrrhenian, vocalist CeCe Gable performs Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen’s “Any Place I Hang My Hat is Home.” From the varied set list on this, her sixth release to date, any tune CeCe takes on is home! Her intimate and sophisticated style is right at home with guitarist Akio Sasajima, bassist Harvie S and drummer Andy Heglund on “You and the Night and the Music.” She feels just as comfortable taking on the bossa nova feel of the title track supported by a trio led by pianist Bill Hecht. She fits right in on bluesier numbers like Bob Dorough’s “Small Day Tomorrow.”  Whether she is singing about a boat (“Little Boat”), a coastal resort (“The Riviera”), a country (I’ll See You in C-U-B-A”) or spring (“Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most’), Gable blends her Blossom Dearie-like style with the art of a storyteller to make the most of the ten tunes on this release. The range and nature of tunes on Love on the Tyrrhenian suggest that Gable is more of a cabaret singer than a true jazz singer. That’s not a bad thing, only because she does it so well — regardless of what tune she hangs her hat on.

BOTTOM LINE: Although Love on the Tyrrhenian does not feature some of the jazz heavyweights (e.g.  Alan Broadbent, Matt Wilson, Brian Landrus and Roni Ben-Hur)that accompanied her on earlier releases, CeCe Gable is in good company with a varying cast of instrumentalists who cover a lot of musical territory on this very pleasant and satisfying release.