This is a hugely welcome album from Sara Colman, a singer of great passion and grace, and a musician whose musicality has enhanced, not only her solo live career, but also the massively popular "The Passion" alongside Jacqui Dankworth and Liane Carroll.

Beautifully and simply recorded with a terrific team of players, "Ready" is the showcase for Colman's talent that we've all waited for. A soulful rag-bag of song structures, from a delightfully scat-soaked funk workout of "Bye-bye Love" to a cheeky, fresh new arrangement of the Ellington classic "I'm Beginning To See The Light", with a handful of newly written material including Colman's searingly beautiful version of Jacqui Dankworth's "Be Kind" and her own searching and confessional composition, "Rock".

Comparisons are often churlish, but in this case, important - as they contextualise the importance of continuing a legacy of jazz infused singing that we so need at the moment, with so many weak pretenders around, mimmicking badly the past. Not Sara. Sara invokes the range and vulnerability of Rickie Lee Jones, the purity of tone of Laura Nyro and Judie Tzuke.. ....and if it 's jazz singing you need, it's here in bucketloads, a genuine feel for the elasticity and playfulness of swing phrasing and a true improviser's ear...checkout the new lyrics on a fabulous vocalese alongside the Van Heusen classic, "I Thought About You".

The beauty of this album is it’s live quality. A great band, simply recorded, this IS the gig. No production frills necessary.

And then there's Colman's singing. A naturally soulful and emotionally true voice, connecting you and drawing you in.. ..and that's surely the most
important thing about great singing.

Ian Shaw. London. August 2008.