Cassandra Wilson: Easy Rider

Dont be scared off by the personnel listing. You might assume that a recording with three bass players, two drummers, two guitarists, as well as keyboard and most ominous of all a programmer, would sound too busy. In fact, this stunning version of Easy Rider has a fresh, open ambiance that actually sounds under-produced. The Mississippi-born Wilson has always been a great blues singer, but here she takes one of the oldest blues in the repertoire and makes you forget that anyone else has ever recorded it. A smart, deep performance by one of the finest jazz singers of our day.