Review...   A real treasure has just irrupted into the music market. I'm talking about A Thousand Beautiful Things (2006 Telarc CD-83630) by New York singer Janis Siegel. An artist who, in my opinion, does not yet have the recognition she deserves. Based on the quality of her work, sh should be one of the great legends of vocal music and, without doubt, preside over the vocal scene of our times. Evidently there are som female singers who stand out at present, but they only serve to emphasize the difference between "The Genius" (Janis Siegel) and "The Talent" (the rest).

     To talk about Janis Siegel is, without doubt, to talk about music in all aspects. You just have to hand Janis a few scores, a pencil and a rubber and she will transform any song into a work of genius. If on top of that, we then asked her to perform it with her wonderluf voice, that is when we get to know the real meaning of "quintessence". If, as an arranger, she transforms songs into works of genius, when she performs them they become sublime.

     Everything that has been expressed has been consistent throughout the singer's nine albums, very few for such long career. But we should noy forget that Janis Siegel is part of The Manhattan Transfer and this is the reason for her limited productivity as solo artist.

     If, in her penultimate album Sketches Of Broadway (2004 Telarc CD-83597), she proved her ability as a music arranger with themes by outstanding composers such as Rodgers & Hammerstein, Berlin, Sondheim, Weill, Styne etc., in A Thousand Beautiful Things she works with a new generation of composers such as Björk, Suzanne Vega, Annie Lennox, Nelly McKay, Alice Rissell, Sam Phillips, Raul Midon and Erin Moran. It is also important to note the presence of compositions by her friends Ferd Hersch and Norma Winstone and also the mythical Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder.

     A Thosand Beautiful Things is basically a latin album, at least that is the approach that Siegel takes. She feels at ease with this style of music because it is not the first time that she has used in collaboration with other artists.

     Those os us who already know the outstanding quality of the singer from her previous work, both as solo artist and as a member of The Manhattan Transfer, will realize that A Thousand Beautiful Things is unadulterated Janis Siegel... in other words: "pure Janis Siegel". For those of you who do not yet know her, I give my word that, when you listen to her new album, you will fall in love with her voice from the very first moment.

     If you think I have exaggerated, I would recommend that you stop everything you are doing and run to the nearest record shop to get hold of A Thousand Beautiful Things. Do not thank me now, you will do so in ten years when you are still enjoying this musical jewel.

     Viva la Siegel!