Best known for her dazzling vocal stylings as part of the New York Voices, Lauren Kinhan presents her first solo album, and it's a jazz-pop surprise. "Avalon" is a deeply personal, literate and sophisticated collection of originals. It marks Kinhan as an ascendant new voice in the tradition of Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan and the more recent phenomenon Melody Gardot. These are tunes with smart lyrics, pop hooks and jazz arrangements that stay with the listener. They grab you right away and also reveal layer upon layer of nuance and detail with each subsequent hearing. For those who wonder where the American Songbook may be headed in the next years of the 21st Century, Lauren Kinhan will provide a provocative and compelling answer.

Hardly Blinking