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Our Review

Life just is not fair. First, Susan House has a cookin' voice, one of those airy pop instruments with richly-jeweled jazz undertones. Second, she is drop-dead gorgeous, a crystalline, kittenish blonde who strongly reminds me of Yvette Mimieux in the 1960s. How do people get this lucky?

House displays classy, vulnerable jazz vocals on Gifts of the Season. This artist is smoooooth; her experience singing with big-name bands in New York City and Hollywood is well evident here. Her song phrasing is "Professional" with a capital "P" throughout.

The song selection is eclectic. House co-wrote (with David Gerstenberger) three pieces here; all are light-hearted valentines to the season, and they fit nicely with the contemporary classics and older carols. The samba sauciness of White Christmas and Do You Hear What I Hear? had me swaying in my chair. House's a cappella opening to Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire sent light chills down my spine. The most unusual track is likely her rendition of Eden Ahbez's Nature Boy. Ahbez himself was quite the eccentric character, a pre-rock "hippie" who composed the song in honor of his pal "Tribesman."

Gifts of the Season is an embraceable (and slightly quirky) album for jazz aficionados who yearn for sultry, yet supremely innocent, renditions of holiday numbers with minimal accompaniment to crowd the vocals. Sweet!

--Carol Swanson
(Reviewed in 2006)

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From the liner notes:

Musicians:
Susan House, Vocals
Randy Halberstaat, Piano
Jeff Johnson, Bass
Mark Ivester, Drums and Percussion

Produced by SISU HEART RECORDS

Susan House

Gifts of the Season

Artist link

Track List