LIZ COLE, I Want to Be Happy

In these anxious times where sociopolitical divisions and economic worries seem to be a constant undercurrent in our day-to-day lives, it’s refreshing to start off the year with the kind of optimism the vibrant Liz Cole shares on her sublime, stylistically eclectic debut album whose title reads like an infectious mission statement: I Want To Be Happy.

The popular, multi-faceted L.A. based singer’s enthusiasm pops from the get go, spinning cheerily through a bustling, deeply percussive romp through the title cut, which gets extra sprinklings of hopeful joy from a wild Jacob Mann piano solo. From there, Cole creates a set full of off the beaten path, oft-overlooked standards that reflect a range of moods and tap into her expansive range, sense of intimacy and delightful, wry sense of swing.

Her selections are so unique, from a snappy Brazilian tune from Joao Gilberto’s debut album (“Lobo Bobo,” sung gorgeously in Portuguese) to a sultry and silky take on the obscure, silkily  Oscar nominated “Love” (from a 70’s Disney Robin Hood film), that it might be a good idea to Google while we listen to discover the source of each selection. The rhythmic shifts are actually a lot of fun, as she eases from a spirited “You’re Sensational” (a Cole Porter gem first sung by Frank Sinatra to Grace Kelly in High Society) to a low key vocal-guitar duo (with the great Larry Koonse) on Hoagy Carmichael’s laid back “Lazy River” – and along the way winks slyly to the likes of Eubie Blake (“I’d Give a Dollar for a Dime”) and Tom Waits (“I’m Still Here”).

This is an early 2025 release but it’s probably already a shoo-in for a bunch of year end Top Ten lists. Liz Cole is bound to make everyone happy with this remarkable collection.