‘From the Very Start’ Reviews
Kent jazznews, December 2010 Edition
“There are many girl singers on the scene today all sounding and even looking alike; each hyped as another Ella, Sarah or Lady Day. It is therefore refreshing to come upon a vocalist like Sue Rivers who has a style and personality all her own. At times she does have the husky delivery of Peggy Lee, but all the while having a highly distinctive tone that seems to make each song a personal statement.
The twelve tracks on this album range from finger-snapping swingers like You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To, to intimate late-night smoochies such as Close As Pages In A Book. There is an intriguing bonus track – Alone Together, which has Sue Rivers accompanying herself on flute and with Pete Ringrose on piano, bass and trumpet!! Fascinating.
To describe the musicians on this album as a backing group is to do them an injustice. Jo Fooks (tenor sax), Jim Treweek (piano), Pete Ringrose (bass) and Buster Birch (drums) are an integral part of the music. Fooks’ playing complements Rivers’ singing perfectly, sounding a little like Lester Young and — dare I say this — even a bit Websterish? The late Humphrey Lyttleton once said of Sue Rivers: “I could easily sit through an evening of that.” Now you can too.
You can obtain the CD at any of the Sue Rivers gigs or order it online at: www.suerivers.com.” … AP