A top jazz singer based in Detroit, Sheila Landis has been releasing albums on her SheLan label since 1981. Parenthe-Seizure draws its 11 selections from six previously released sets, with seven of the numbers being from 1981-1983, three from 1995, and one from 2002. This survey into mostly early Landis finds that she was a superior jazz singer from the start. Landis scats inventively, sings lyrics that she believes in, and excels on a variety of jazz standards. A bossa nova version of "Secret Love" that co-stars guitarist Rick Matle and a rendition of Lee Morgan's "Speedball" that has the singer's lyrics are two of the high points. The music shifts in style from cut to cut, going from post-bop to soulful fusion, from a ballad to a scat-fest. Everything works well on this well-conceived sampler, which serves listeners well by offering a fine introduction to the singing of Sheila Landis. ~ Scott Yanow|
Rovi