Suddenly thrust to the forefront of a crowded field of young jazz singers, Clare Teal is no soft-focus Jones or Melua.

On her first major-label album, Yorkshire-born Clare stomps all over them, with big band, grooving small groups and occasional strings. Lesser mortals would hesitate to tackle Brian Wilson's title track, Don't Talk, but Clare navigates the beautiful but tortuous melody effortlessly.

Alongside jazz standards and classic songs, the album opener is one of four Martin originals, Messin' With Fire kicking off in drum-driven Sing Sing Sing style into a tearaway big-band arrangement by keyboards player/conductor Simon Wallace.

Next is the rarely-heard Cy Coleman tune When In Rome, with a spare and open vibes-led small group. Alto solos are by everyone's favourite, Alan Barnes.

The briskly Latin-tinged Everything Is You is co-written by Clare, Amanda Field and son of Roy, Ben Castle, who takes the tenor saxophone solo.

Ellington's Mood Indigo and In A Mellow Tone show the assurance of Ms Teal paying her dues on the jazz club/concert circuit and she stretches out happily with the big soulful band, strings and backing vocals of Laura Nyro's Stoned Soul Picnic.

The backing singers join in again for a nostalgic, Andrews Sisters take on The Music Goes Round And Round, featuring Leeds-born trumpeter Enrico Tomasso in an up-beat trumpet duel with Mark Armstrong.

At 31, to have absorbed so much jazz history, yet to have a contemporary feel, Clare Teal is up there with Diana Krall and her old mate Jamie Cullum. A terrific album.

Updated: 08:32 Thursday, November 04, 2004