Seasons Of Life
White girl fusing breezy cool jazz with sultry dollops of R&B; lite while never straying far from the centerline may not be the most promising blueprint for an album. But damned if Janita doesn't pull it off with surprising grace here, often reminding us that it's thesinger, not the formula, in the bargain. But then her perspective may be the key: Janita was an unlikely contemporary soul pioneer as a teen in her native Finland, bringing a steadfast commitment to classy style with her as she transformed herself into NYC-based journeywoman chanteuse. The album may begin by slyly evoking the spirit of Gilberto on the opener "No Words," but by the time it wends its way through the string-drenched elegance of "That's How Life Goes" and the spare, jazzy "I Only Want You," comparisons to Dianna Krall and Norah Jones seem not so far afield. There may be one too many bowings to slick MOR along the way, but the pop charms of "Too Late" and the title track are undeniable.--Jerry McCulley