Soesja Citroen
joined the
Challenge
roster with
Here and Now
, which was produced by the Dutch label's in-house producer,
Chris Ellis
. A veteran jazz producer,
Ellis
was known for having great instincts when it came to singers, and he does well by
Citroen
on this album. Joined by pianist
Cees Slinger
, bassist
Jan Voogd
, and drummer
Arnoud Gerritse
, the singer is in good-to-excellent form on selections that range from
Dave Frishberg
's sexy
"Peel Me a Grape"
and
Stix Hooper
's bluesy
"Never Make Your Move Too Soon"
to well-known standards like
"But Beautiful"
"My Shining Hour."
Jarmo Hoogendijk
, a talented Dutch trumpeter, joins
on four of the CD's 12 songs, including
"Peel Me a Grape,"
"Old Devil Moon,"
Duke Ellington
's
"The Lonely Ones."
Thankfully,
would not be the last time
would work together. ~ Alex Henderson