With Norah Jones choosing to pursue a career as a Bohemian singer/songwriter (and Nellie McKay revealing herself to be too artfully camp to even consider the mainstream), the door was wide open for a singer like Nikki Yanofsky: a bright, cheerful jazz-pop traditionalist happy to sing those old songs once again. And so she does on here 2010 debut, Nikki, produced in tandem by the legendary Phil Ramone and Jesse Harris, the guitarist/songwriter who came to prominence via his work on Jones debut Come Away with Me, where he penned her breakthrough hit Dont Know Why. Harris performs a similar function on Yanofskys debut, co-writing the bulk of the non-classics here with the assistance of Ron Sexsmith and Yanofsky herself, crafting smooth, assured soft rock thats of a piece with the sultriness of Come Away with Me (with the notable exception of the cabaret swing of Bienvenue Dans Ma Vie). But Nikki Yanofsky is clearly not Norah Jones: she possesses a puppy-dog eagerness that jibes with her 16 years, happy to perform and please. Theres an innate brightness to her persona that is beguiling, particularly when shes singing those numbers written with Harris and Sexsmith, songs that feel timeless and contemporary and take full advantage of her sunny nature. Stephen Thomas Erlewine.

1. Take the “A” Train
2. Never Make It On Time
3. I Got Rhythm
4. For Another Day
5. God Bless the Child
6. Cool My Heels
7. You’ll Have To Swing It (Mr. Paganini)
8. Bienvenue Dans Ma Vie
9. First Lady
10. On the Sunny Side of the Street/fool In the Rain
11. Grey Skies
12. Try Try Try
13. Over the Rainbow