Madeleine Peyroux - Half the Perfect World

Like Norah Jones, Peyroux inhabits a world that might be called near jazz: lots of blue notes and a bit of swing, but not nearly enough jazz-like daring. Still, there’s an appealing fragility in Peyroux ’s voice, which often gets compared to greats like Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith. Her vulnerability is well-suited to Fred Neil’s escapist “Everybody’s Talkin’” and Charlie Chaplin’s brave “Smile.” And her gentle phrasing provides the perfect glide to kd lang’s magnificent push on Joni Mitchell’s skating classic “River.” 

Sept. 12