Sara Caswell

Jazz violinists are a rare breed, and female jazz violinist are, well, an even rarer one. The rarity of the species, then, makes a new album by violinist Sara Caswell even more welcome. But Beautiful features Caswell, pianist Lynne Arriale, bassists Larry Kohut and Jeremy Allen, and drummer Steve Davis on a varied set list of standards along with a few surprises. The album begins in a mellow, almost classical mode, seguing from "The Way You Look Tonight" to "Moon and Sand" to the title track. Caswell's technique is pristine here, but perhaps too careful, and one longs for a bit of careless excitement. But Beautiful takes an interesting detour on Wayne Shorter's "Black Nile," a piece with fun tempo shifts and, during the slower passages, a dark undercurrent. A similar deviation takes place on Thelonious Monk's "Straight, No Chaser," with Caswell offering something like a free jazz interpretation. Caswell's sister Rachel joins the band for vocals on Billy Joel's "And So It Goes," Ron Carter's "Receipt Please," and "Shenandoah." The most exciting of these is her scat workout on "Receipt Please," and how her tone nearly matches her sister's violin. But Beautiful is a solid album, and although it may have benefited from more challenging material, it will nonetheless be warmly greeted by jazz violin lovers. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., All Music Guide