Emma Smith - Bitter Orange (2025)

If You Love Retro Jazz Divas, Emma Smith’s Latest Album May Be Just the Nostalgic Escape You’re Craving.

In a world where jazz continues to splinter into new subgenres and experimental hybrids, there remains a dedicated corner for the traditionalists, those who long for the glamour, charm, and vocal finesse of mid-century cabaret stars. If that’s where your musical tastes lie, then Emma Smith’s latest album will feel like a warm, velvet-draped invitation to a bygone era. But don’t come looking for innovation. This is not a record trying to reinvent jazz, but rather one that relishes in its past, delivered with exceptional vocal technique and an unwavering devotion to the genre’s golden age.

From the first track, it’s evident that Smith isn’t here to shock or surprise. She’s here to impress, and she does, albeit within the safe confines of tradition. Her voice is rich, precise, and emotionally intelligent, embodying the kind of control and elegance that have become increasingly rare in contemporary jazz vocals. Her phrasing, pitch, and ability to deliver even the most well-worn standards with conviction is a testament to her refined artistry.

Take her rendition of My Funny Valentine, for example. It arrives, predictably, as part of the tracklist, almost a rite of passage for any jazz vocalist hoping to align herself with the greats. Yet while her take is vocally extravagant, it perhaps tries too hard to make an impact, resulting in a version that feels more ornamental than revelatory. For some, the vocal flourishes will be dazzling; for others, including this reviewer, the excess may feel more like a distraction than a fresh interpretation.

Still, the buzz around Emma Smith is more than justified. Recently crowned the UK Parliament’s Jazz Vocalist of the Year, she’s riding a well-earned wave of acclaim. With an impressive resume that includes performances at the Royal Albert Hall and collaborations with musical heavyweights such as Michael Bublé, the Quincy Jones Orchestra, Jeff Goldblum, Bobby McFerrin, and Gregory Porter, Smith is no stranger to the international jazz circuit. Her rise is not a fluke, it’s the result of years of dedication, a rigorous touring schedule, and an unmistakable gift for stage presence.

Born into a family of musicians, a saxophonist mother and a trumpeter-composer father, jazz was less a choice for Smith than a calling. But her true hero, as she often shares in interviews, was her grandfather: a trombonist from London’s East End who made his way from British military bands to stages shared with legends like Frank Sinatra, Oscar Peterson, and Barbra Streisand. “He never missed a day of practice,” Smith recalls. “He taught me that your worth as an artist is only as strong as your last performance.” That mantra pulses through every track of this album, a meticulousness, a reverence, a sense of legacy.

And yet, for all that craftsmanship, one can’t help but wish she had taken more risks. This album — a collection of standards and familiar covers, is expertly produced, no doubt. But it also feels like a missed opportunity. With her immense talent and interpretive sensitivity, Smith is poised to do more than revisit the past; she’s capable of reshaping the present. A foray into original compositions, or even bold reworkings of the canon, would push her into a space where her artistry could speak even more profoundly.

As it stands, this is an album that plays it safe, too safe, perhaps, for those craving novelty or invention. But jazz purists, lovers of lush arrangements and crystalline vocals, will find much to admire here. It is, at its core, a tribute, to family, to tradition, and to the enduring power of a voice finely tuned to its purpose.

In the ever-expanding universe of jazz, there is still a place for this kind of elegant nostalgia. For some, Emma Smith’s album will feel like a cherished relic, lovingly dusted off and restored. For others, it may feel like a beautiful echo, too distant to stir the soul. Either way, it reminds us that sometimes, looking back can still feel like a meaningful journey, even if it doesn’t always lead somewhere new.

TRACKLIST

1. Emma Smith - Hey World, Here I Am! (Intro)
2. Emma Smith - I'm The Greatest Star
3. Emma Smith - Frim Fram Sauce
4. Emma Smith - Make It Another Old Fashioned, Please
5. Emma Smith - Tonight
6. Emma Smith - Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
7. Emma Smith - London Pride
8. Emma Smith - What Took You So Long?
9. Emma Smith - I'm in the Middle of A Muddle
10. Emma Smith - Funny Face
11. Emma Smith - My Funny Valentine
12. Emma Smith - Polka Dots and Moonbeams