Teri Thornton, I’ll Be Easy to Find (Verve)

Teri Thornton is a great jazz singer that you probably never heard of. She has recorded before, but that was back in the early ’60s, and she hasn’t been heard from since. All that is about to change, trust me. Teri Thornton is poised to inherit the throne as the next great jazz diva.

Teri Thornton has a voice, similar to Sarah Vaughan, but smokier, with hints of Nnenna Freelon’s clarity and presence. Thornton has the confidence of Betty Carter, the spiritual grandeur of Abbey Lincoln and the sleek sense of style of Dee Dee Bridgewater. An incredibly talented and versatile performer, who also writes and arranges, she can really scat (increasingly a lost art form), she relishes the blues, has a nice touch with spirituals and ballads, and most importantly, she swings!

I’ll Be Easy To Find showcases all of Thornton’s talents with an outstanding jazz combo which includes Howard Johnson, Dave Bargeron, Jerome Richardson, Ray Chew, Norman Simmons, Lonnie Plaxico, Michael Bowie, J.T. Lewis and Grady Tate. Thornton thrives off the energy, funkiness and flow of her drummer, J.T. Lewis. Her approach is bold, but she also has poise and a great sense of phrasing, rhythm and timing. Her versatility is displayed with a vast array of material that Thornton takes special delight in handling with flair, passion and drama.

I’ll Be Easy To Find is the record that Teri Thornton has been wanting to make her entire life. She’s no overnight sensation, but has everything it takes to be the next great jazz diva.