I Never Went Away (2001)

"I Never Went Away does not reflect a change in Carol Sloane's style so much as a refinement of her art. Sloane has almost always gotten the big things right. Listen to any of her records and you will hear a singer with excellent intonation, superb time and a genuine feel for the meaning of a lyric. Sloane's greatest performances have always occurred when her musical and lyrical concentration have been tightly focused. When her attention wanders, whether due to dissatisfaction or unfamiliarity with the material, the accompaniment or the surroundings, the results tend to be pleasantly generic. However, when she is on her game, Sloane engages in jazz singing of the highest order—richly nuanced and emotionally compelling. On I Never Went Away, she is not only on her game but also at the top of it. Her concentration does not lapse even once resulting in not only the most satisfying album of her career, but one of finest examples of jazz singing in recent memory." (Allaboutjazz)

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