This debut CD shows off the North West vocalist's mature interpretations of the great American songbook and other jazz-associated material to impressive effect.

Lyn Fairbanks, sensitively accompanied by Gentle Jazz (featuring Bob Gill and Pianist Brian Crowdy), brings an affecting personal touch to her treatments of 14 distinctive songs, prompting favourable comparisons with major vintage performers like June Christy and Chris Connor.

Manchester Evening News

(Blue prelude is...) An enjoyable listen with a mix of lesser-known numbers and great jazz standards. Lyn has a lovely voice with a warm, appealing tone and a sensitive feel for tempo and phrasing. Her style has been compared to classic singers June Christy and Chris Connor. The Manchester-based quartet, Gentle Jazz, is first class. Affection between singer and instrumentalists is evident from start to finish. There are plenty of nice touches and fine solos from the band.

Lyn had her first professional engagement just five years ago. She gives full credit for her speedy musical development to the outstanding instrumentalists she works with and the support they have given her. Her modesty, natural talent and love of Jazz have surely won them over from trio to big band.

Humphrey Lyttelton and Desmond Carrington have given Blue Prelude airplay on BBC Radio 2, introducing Lyn to an enthusiastic and wider UK audience

MU Magazine

(Lyn's) voice has the texture of cashmere, her delivery is relaxed and assured, and she phrases with an effortless, loping swing. If the Great American Songbook has never sounded so fresh, put it down to Fairbanks' happy knack of picking less familiar pearls from the canon.

News North West