Sunny Sumter’s voice is lovely, lush, liquid. Her timbre is reminiscent of Lena Horne; her phrasing recalls Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae. Hers is a brandy-rich sound with a velvet-smooth style, perfect for ballads such as “Daydream” and “Save Your Love for Me.”
For her second album, she sings an eclectic mix, from Billie Holiday’s “Detour Ahead” and Horne’s hit “The Best Is Yet to Come” to Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed” and the spiritual “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” Pianist-arranger-producer Larry Willis excels on his solos, solidly supported by bassist Keter Betts and drummer Jimmy Cobb. I want to hear more of Sunny, soon.
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