Houston Texas - I often get Cd's from artist in the mail wanting me to play their song's on my radio show "The Morning Coffee Mix". Until now, I have played only one song, and that was was never replayed. Until now..

Christine Tavares's Love Songs - Lost & Found is rich in vocals. Christine has a rich powerful but light voice. It's accurate, fluid, and melodic. I'm slightly reminded of Ingrid Michaelson. On this project, she collaborates with John Morell. The lyrics by John are rich, with music I could see being sung by other artist or Christine with a full brass/woodwind section.

The project starts with the light jazz-latin sounding Thought I'd Never Fall Again. A mix of light acoustic guitar, with a some synth in the background. I really wish I heard this song with a real string section, the synth kinda detracts from the lyrics and vocals. It then moves to the track Strange & Faithful Day. I like this song because it rely's more on Tavares's voice. You also hear some really nice soft relaxing guitar bits in this song. The lyrics on this song are amazing. It is redone as the final track on the CD with a little more reggae in style.

Good To Be Yours is really melodic with a mix of honky tonk piano, guitar and and light strings. I love when it goes from guitar to the piano. I wish the guitar(or is it electric piano?) on the interlude was a little more back than the honky-tonk piano, but it's a tremendously catchy tune. Serious Thing About You is a little more traditional songbook in nature. This is a song I would love to hear with a big brass part, aka Michael Buble/Frank Sinatra style. This one would have serious airplay in my mind if it was reworked in that vein.

The tempo slows down with Don't Talk To Me About Love. I love the piano interlude here(granted this is from a piano player). Love Works Both Ways in my opinion is the strongest track on the project. It relies more on Christine's voice than the accompiant music. It's upbeat, and catchy! Round About Morning slows it down with more traditional light jazz. Kinda offbeat but well written for sure.

The later part of the album keeps it up with a song that could be a country ballad, I Have To Break Your Heart, and a catchy upbeat blues song in Bad Boys Blues. Touch of Love wraps up the project. It's a song that's missing without some real instrumentation. Sounds a little flat without some real muted trumpet in it.

So to wrap it up, a really well done, nicely performed collection, worthy of your listening. Christine is a super strong vocalist and the writing & music is superb from John Morell. And it's worthy of a re-recording with a nice big band full of real strings, brass, and a sax or two. That from a non-sax playing piano-trumpeteer....

You can get this CD on iTunes or CD baby.