26 October 2001
“… This velvet voice sings of a wonderful time and style of jazz
that will have people of such persuasion drifting down the lane
signposted “Memory” recalling mostly sweet and gentle times, wrapped
(and rapt) in lovely phrasing, clear diction and beautiful instrumental
sounds. Jensen is backed on the session, by musicians described
magnanimously by Dale Barlow, himself an Australian great, as
“some of the finest established musicians in Sydney” – including
the Canberra-educated Nick McBride, now one of Australia’s busiest
drummers. On piano and keyboards is Michael Bartolemei, who also
collaborated with Jensen and bassist David Stratton in arranging
her original tunes Reality (track five of 12) and The Best Thing
in Your Life. Steve Brien plays guitars, Casey Greene flute and
soprano saxophone; and Graham Jesse alto and tenor saxes. Jensen
plays piano and sings solo in Time After Time with the same delicacy
and simpatico shown by all throughout the session. Excuse me while
I spin it again, and there’ll be no mention of another significant
contribution to Australian music from New Zealand, admittedly
by way of the United States, Europe and other points.”
