—————————————————— Tianna Hall & the Mexico City Jazz Trio | Music | Houston | Houston Press | The Leading Independent News Source in Houston, Texas

Houston Music

Tianna Hall & the Mexico City Jazz Trio

"Fever" might be the second cut on this CD, but it should be the song you listen to first. It has a sweet mix of hot sensuality and cool. Peggy Lee who? Hall recorded this CD last year in Mexico City, with Miguel Villicaña on piano, Agustin Bernal on bass and Gabriel Puentes on drums. It's not without its missteps (the intro to "In the Still of the Night" is a bit too dramatic, and there is a sense of sameness on the 14 tracks), but gosh, when she gets it right, Hall gets it real right. "The Way You Look Tonight" and "At Last" are up there with "Fever" for a near-perfect mix of polish, chops and style. "At Last," in particular, reminds listeners that this is jazz, not jazzed-up blues. Not trying to re-create Etta James's blues classic "At Last," it takes on a different form and feel, as it should. Hall opens the CD with "You Don't Know Me"; we hope that changes.
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Olivia Flores Alvarez