When the Sun Comes Out

Album Review

Actually her third solo album, When the Sun Comes Out finds Amy Banks coming out swinging like it's her debut. The set is made up primarily of classic jazz standards, though there's an original or two, and there are a few covers of soul hits reworked into lounge jazz. The format is largely a basic jazz-trio backing with Banks and her silky vocals over the top, a craft she no doubt honed at numerous lounges over the years. The vocals don't quite emulate any of the classic female masters specifically, but there are hints of them all worked in, most notably folks like Nancy Wilson and Brenda Russell. Though the material has been covered countless times before, a good voice can enliven it for another pass. Banks has such a voice. Though her phrasing seems a wee bit off from time to time, she overcomes any such problems with sheer power and charisma. Definitely worth a spin.