Look At Me Now! (2004)

"French vocalist Laika Fatien is quite capable of taking daring leaps, but she's only interested in doing so when the song demands it. Fatien's great strength is in digging her way to the root of the song, allowing her natural abilities to take it from there, and then giving it her all. On the gloomy, stark "Where Are the Words," Fatien is practically subdued, her soulful delivery riding just above pianist Pierre de Bethman's bluesy tones. But Look at Me Now! isn't all about sultriness by any means. A song like "The Best Is Yet to Come," having been recorded by countless others, demands a certain swing and Fatien has no trouble delivering it. And on "Zigaboogaloo," Fatien and her quintet are practically giddy with enjoyment. On Wayne Shorter's "This Is For Albert Ayler," she pays appropriate tribute to the song's subject by bending and stretching every which way, remarkably without ever losing sight of the intimacy that defines her approach." (Allmusic)

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