Too often today, we will hear from singers who, in order to curry favor with a wider audience, will skirt the edges of jazz or speak of their “jazz influences”, while singing pop, hip-hop or anything other than jazz. So I am always encouraged to hear from a young vocalist who is truly endeavoring to become a jazz singer; trying to maintain artistic integrity and take a few chances, in a “take the money and run” vocal world. 

On Tonight, we are introduced to Robin Aleman; a New York native, Fordham University graduate and student of one of the brightest lights among jazz singers to come along in the last ten years, Dena DeRose. Ms. Aleman sings with a pleasant, upbeat voice that, in tone, is reminiscent of ‘90s smooth jazz icon, Basia and also at times, of one of today’s more popular singers, Norah Jones. But make no mistake about it, Tonight is a jazz singer’s album, from the song selection, which consists of many familiar standards, along with a few rarely heard gems, to her skilled and inventive quartet of sidemen, all of whom are seasoned and respected members of today’s New York jazz scene. 

As mentioned before, Ms. Aleman is willing to take a few chances, in order to breathe new life into some of jazz’s “sacred vocal cows” and as happens anytime you take chances, there are a few missteps. However there are enough things that work that you become excited about hearing more in the future, as this artist develops. Many of the more stimulating moments occur when the already spare instrumentation is stripped down even further, such as on Duke Ellington’s “Azure”, where she is accompanied only by bassist Bob Sabin. Sabin’s work throughout this disc is rock solid and he truly is a talent on the bass that is deserving of wider recognition. On “Azure”, he creates a dreamy featherbed on which Robin’s vocal lightly rests. It is a track that you appreciate more with each hearing. On Sammy Cahn’s “Teach Me Tonight”, which has become a virtual cliché as an overwrought ballad, Ms. Aleman uses her age to her advantage, performing the song as a mid-tempo stroll with pianist David Epstein. In this case, the “student” seems to look forward to her “lessons” with youthful anticipation. She also performs Iola Brubeck’s rarely heard lyric on her husband Dave’s “In Your Own Sweet Way”, a welcome treat. Mr. Epstein’s inventive, swinging piano solo made me want to applaud at the end, as if I were hearing it in a club. 

As good as these cuts are, the standout track however, is an obscure Antonio Carlos Jobim gem, “Foi A Noite” (“It Was Night”). This song and Ms. Aleman’s voice were made for each other and the musicians are right there with her, creating a mood that is gentle and smooth, yet completely compelling. “It Was Night” opens with the solo acoustic guitar of British guitarist Pete Smith, setting a tone suggestive of Jon Lucien’s “Lady Love”. Then Robin enters, singing the original Portuguese lyric as the quartet sets a lilting Bossa Nova beat (listen for drummer Peter Retzlaff’s brilliant brushwork). Smith then returns with a guitar solo that would make two of his influences, Joe Pass and Martin Taylor, quite proud. By the time the song concludes, with Ms. Aleman singing Gene Lee’s English lyric, you will not want the experience to end. “Foi A Noite” will have you hitting the “repeat track” button on your CD player, numerous times. 

Robin Aleman’s Tonight is a promising debut from a talented jazz singer, whom we expect to hear many great things from in the coming years.