Bridges
After a spotty series of attempts at merging jazz with pop, Dianne Reeves creates a beautifully organic synthesis between the two onBridges, which has all the makings (panache, innovation, accessibility) of a commercial breakthrough. Reeves thrives during a quintet of folk-jazz narratives midway through the disk, from a vivid take onLeonard Cohen's "Suzanne" (set off byKenny Garrett's human-cry soprano sax) to a wordless "Olokun" by pianist-arrangerBilly Childs. In between are the delicately unfolding ballad "Goodbye" (an gorgeous, instant pop classic), a shimmering remake ofMilton Nascimento's "Bridges" (anchored by a Nascimento-like acoustic guitar), and perhaps the best version ofJoni Mitchell's "River" ever made. The fluid interplay and petulant sentiment of the back-porch blues tune "Mista" later provides a delicious change of pace. A blocky take onPeter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" and Reeves's sappy lyrics on "Testify" (marring a spare and spunky African-gospel rhythmic groove) prove thatBridgesisn't perfect. But with sidemen like Garrett, pianistMulgrew Miller, and bassist Reginald Veal on board for quality control, these lapses amount to minor quibbles about a sterling outing.--Britt Robson