Why Did I Choose You follows up on the success of Emi Takada's previous recording I'm All Smiles. She sings ten classic songs with understated feeling and sensitivity while joined by a swinging quartet comprised of pianist Michael Kanan, guitarist Satoshi Inoue, bassist Neal Miner, and drummer Dwayne "Cook" Broadnax.
Emi Takada puts plenty of feeling into her interpretations, picks great songs, swings no matter what the tempo, and always displays sincerity while digging deep into the meaning behind the lyrics. Inspired by the concise and tasteful solos of pianist Kanan and guitarist Inoue, Ms. Takada performs such numbers as "It Might As Well Be Spring," "All The Things You Are" (starting with its rarely-heard verse), a dreamy jazz waltz version of "I'm In The Mood For Love," and heartfelt renditions of "You Must Believe In Spring" and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye." Her mentor, singer Marion Cowings, guests on a few numbers including a combination of "Blue Skies" and "In Walked Bud" which features the two vocalists joyfully interacting, as well as "Miagete Goran Yoru No Hoshi Wo (Look Up At The Night Stars)," a very important song loved by all Japanese people. Emi Takada pays tribute to Cowings' mentor Jon Hendricks on "No More Blues" (which has Hendricks' English lyrics) and to composer Michael Leonard (whose "I'm All Smiles" was the title track of her previous album) on a slow and emotional "Why Did I Choose You." And to display her versatility, the singer also performs a bluesy "Story Weather" and an uptempo "Lover Come Back To Me."Videos