Evolution

AMG Review of Evolution

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Kitty Margolis is a brilliant scat singer who is also expert at interpreting lyrics and shows a great deal of enthusiasm in her performances. Her second release for her Madkat label is a wide-ranging set encompassing everything from Brazilian music, lues, and Margolis' new lyrics to Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" and Cedar Walton's "Firm Roots" to some standards, allads, and hot scatting ("Anthropology"). The backup crew is pretty impressive too, with Joe Henderson's tenor present on half of the selections, guitarist Joe Louis Walker adding fire to the lues numbers, and pianist Dick Hindman offering sympathetic support throughout. This versatile set is a perfect introduction to one of the most exciting jazz singers of the 1990s.