Personnel: Jessie Baylin (vocals); Joe Pisapia (guitar, pedal steel guitar); Pat Buchanan (guitar); Ryan Norris (keyboard); James Haggerty (bass guitar); Scott Martin (drums).
Rarely are the terms "singer-songwriter" and "urban" mentioned in the same sentence, but Jessie Baylin's major-label debut may change that. On one hand, Baylin continues the tradition of earthy,emotive singer-songwriters such as Joni Mitchell and Paula Cole, but her music has also been impacted by the sleek, jazz- and R&B-inspired sounds of the city. With her heartfelt, rootsy vocal delivery and Roger Moutenot's accomplished, sophisticated production, Baylin will no doubt appeal to fans of Norah Jones and P.J. Harvey (in her mellower mode).