Affinity (4) - Affinity

Quite enjoyable late-night blues plus jazz-pop, with the convincing voice of Hoyle to the fore. Playing and arrangements are authorative, Naiff plays a fine organ. Comparisons with Julie Driscoll can hardly be suppressed, though this is much less hectic. Opening very stridently with swing and brass, the record contains quite some relaxed cuts too, and these are obviously preferable. Not all choices are fit for their treatment. The generally highly praised cover of ''All along the watchtower'' sounds too contrived to us and the lack of substantial melody on ''Three sisters'' is not very inviting, but on the whole this is an agreeable album within its genre.