This Heart of Mine

Internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist Jackie Ryan teams up with special guest jazz masters Toots Thieleman's on harmonica, Ernie Watts on saxophone, and a host of other top flight musicians on this unique CD of jazz, swing, gospel, samba and soulful ballads. Highlights include Toots' solo on the beautiful love song "Estate," sung by Jackie in it original Italian, as well as Watts' soulful sax solo on the exotic songs of lament, "Sari," sung in the native language of Brazil's neighbor, Suriname. Three different jazz bands back up Jackie on this CD, and members include Cannonball Adderly drummer Roy McCurdy, bebop pianist Jon Mayer, Duke Ellington trumpeter Allen Smith, and Sarah Vaughan drummer Omar Clay. (First received: 9/8/03)