April 1998

Shiela Landis and Rick Matle
The Bird Inside
Shelan

By Marcela Breton

Vocalist Landis, winner of the Detroit Music Award's "Outstanding Jazz Vocalist" category, possesses range and clarity. There's a bluesy, folk quality to her voice yet she's perfectly at home on such standards as "Comes Love," "Sometimes I'm Happy," "Fever" and "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To." Three of the ten tunes, including the title cut, are poems set to music. All of the songs incorporate scatting. Rick Matle lends strong support, playing guitar, bass, and keyboards.