The gifted wind quintet celebrates the fascinating life of Josephine Baker, the African-American entertainer, exotic dancer, and chanteuse who took Paris by storm in the 1920s and 1930s. Two extended suites bookend a trio of songs associated with Baker's stardom, arranged by the Imani's French horn player, Jeff Scott, and neatly sung by guest vocalist Rene Marie. The first of the three, Don't Touch My Tomatoes, is a humorous piece loaded with suggestive double meanings. The other two are seductive songs Baker would sing in nightclubs while walking through the audience and flirting. Scott's Suite, The Beautiful Siren as Comedian, is an original score inspired by scenes from films Baker starred in. It's a lively work that exploits the range of sonorities mastered by the Imani Winds: jazzy, but also revealing the influence of French classical composers like Francaix and Poulenc. The disc closes with Suite: Portraits of Josephine, penned by the group's flutist, Valerie Coleman. Each portrait depicts a key stage in Baker's life. One, Paris 1925, is an especially captivating piece depicting Baker's exhilaration at the freedom and adulation she found in that city. --Dan Davis
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