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The Japan-based jazz diva Charito is now a presence on the global scene. Her recent albums, featuring powerful collaborations with Ivan Lins and the Manhattan Jazz Orchestra, have shown the world just how talented she is. This eagerly-awaited new release is a collection of songs by the great French composer, Michel Legrand. Legrand himself plays the piano, scats and performs with Charito on four songs. Michel Legrand is a true maestro, a world-famous composer who has won three Academy Awards, and five Grammys. Charito was able to meet Legrand during such a busy time was purely due to his sheer fascination with her talent as a singer. A number of vocalists have collaborated with Michel Legrand in the past including Sarah Vaughan and Lena Horne. It is extremely rare for Legrand to play the piano with his vocalists, yet for this collaboration with Charito, Legrand plays the piano as part of the jazz combo and performs three duets with her: "Summer Me, Winter Me", "Pieces of Dreams" and "Quand On S'Aime." Charito embraces Legrand's world and what she draws out from these melodies is totally fascinating. Charito sings each song very expressively, cherishing not only the beauty of the melody but also the elegant atmosphere that Legrand's works evoke. This is a world of "adult vocals", in the true sense of the words, inspired with the very spirit of Michel Legrand. This Legrand collection really brings home the maturity of Charito, who has been producing solid albums at a pace of one a year.

“Charito is an artist. A true one" - Christopher Santos, CENTERFOLD

ABB (Absolutely Bloody Beautiful) and truly very tasteful. RADIO 2000 97.2 - 100FM – Nationwide

Charito is a vocalist from Japan who is taking on the jazz world by storm. Some of you might be thinking “oh no, a jazz vocalist from Japan, that means half of the words will sound like a mess”, I know how you are. But those who know would never say that, for Charito is a jazz singer who sounds like she has lived in the U.S. all of her life, knowing the nuances of the genre and how to sing from the gut, where it sometimes hurts. Watch What Happens (CT Music) sounds like you’re listening to a Nancy Wilson album, complete with that slurry mouth you know and love, and maybe a cigarette and drink on the side to keep you satisfied. She joins the legendary Michel LeGrand for an album that would be winning people over just for the simple fact that this album has style, grace, and finesse, you know you’re listening to jazz because hearing it makes you feel there’s no other music that’s equally as worthy. Charito sings with so much devotion that you may catch yourself crying, or holding yourself back from going over the edge, it’s that good.

It may sound too good to be true, but here’s absolutely no need to lie, especially after hearing this album. Still don’t believe me? Buy the CD and then I’ll start chanting the album title to you. It’s perfect music for a rainy morning, or an evening after being dropped by your significant other, or a “by-myself meeting”. Now let’s hope an American label will be smart enough to release this domestically, but it’s the kind of album that would make me impatient too. - By John Book Booksmusic.com

Seriously, how cool is this?  You know Michel LeGrand doesn’t need to get out of bed just to grab a paycheck, and you know if he wanted to freshen up his back catalog for future consumption, he could hire anyone and no matter how big they are, if they have a brain they would show up yesterday.  And here, we have a vocalist we’ve never heard of that got LeGrand out of bed for a trip through his back pages with a heavy accent on his soundtrack work and even a nod to many of his great soundtrack songs that found cabaret footing but never really got out of the gate.  Charito has been able to couple up with legends in the last few years and it’s time you took a listen to see what they are digging so well in Japan.  Simply a dandy vocal album from a singer that’s more interested in making her own mark than in following in other singers footsteps.  A nice vibe, a nice atmosphere and a solid work from top to bottom.  Check it out.
- CHRIS SPECTOR MIDWEST RECORD

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