Next Year’s Song Review

by Dan Bilawsky
All About Jazz

To hear CeCe Gable sing is to encounter pure truth. A late bloomer whose early passion for dance was eventually eclipsed by the lure of jazz, she's spent the past three decades honing her craft and establishing herself as a sincere storyteller adept at honoring a lyric and elevating every number she inhabits. Since first taking to the studio at the dawn of the new millennium, CeCe has gone on to develop a body of work that speaks volumes about integrity and openness. Bassist and producer Harvie S, highlighting that fact, sums her up with complimentary concision: "She's an honest singer."

With Next Year's Song, CeCe sends a clear message about what she believes in and where she stands. Her choice of material is first-rate, reflecting an earnest appreciation for standards; the arrangements, courtesy of her band mate/producer/sounding board, showcase a mature voice while sparkling in the light of sophistication and surprise; and the company that she keeps—Harvie, guitarist Roni Ben-Hur, pianist Alan Broadbent and drummer Matt Wilson—is second to none. Taken together, that information denotes absolute quality.

Opening on the title track—a joint effort between CeCe and Harvie—the singer immediately sets the scene with a hopeful tone. The bassist's composition waltzes along while the leader's lyrics hold the torch of optimism aloft, lighting the way to a brighter future. A riff-reinforced "No Moon at All" follows, swinging with class and intelligence. A work of stylish standing, it leaves no doubt as to the collective chemistry at play in this gathering.

Settling into a series of classics arranged with bespoke tailoring, CeCe breathes new life into one winner after another. Time floats around "Two for the Road," enhancing a vocal romance with rumination. "Just One of Those Things," riding the fast lane, gives the leader a chance to open up the throttle and sees Matt plying his melodic trade on the kit. "Like a Lover (O Cantador)," placing Roni's tasteful tone(s) at the fore, allows CeCe to sway gently through the Brazilian breeze. And "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right out of My Life," shedding its balladic bearing in favor of a comfortable swing stride, finds this singer recalibrating the story to fit the setting. Add to that three perfect pairings—a pas de deux with drums at the outset of "My Romance," a late-night confessional beside the piano on "Moments Like This," and a brush with bass in "Come Rain or Come Shine"—and the appreciation for CeCe's collaborative craft grows tenfold.

Taking two detours away from standards near album's end, this veracious vocalist sets her sights on Alan Broadbent's songbook with Georgia Mancio's lyrics. Joining with the pianist-composer (and the rhythm tandem) for "The Last Goodbye," CeCe embraces an air of haunting nostalgia. And gliding over a samba-inflected "From Me to You" alongside guitar, she signs off with grace and charm. Guided by trust and adorned with wonderful risk(s) and rewards, Next Year's Song is one of this year's gems.