Born in the Ivory Coast, raised in France and living in Germany, Cecile Verny sings these 16 songs in French, English and scat. It’s the kind of enterprise that could easily go horribly wrong but she brings such a light touch to it, and the arrangements are so beautifully poised, that this is my vocal album of the year so far. With songwriters ranging from Kurt Weill to Toots Thielemans, arrangements by the likes of Michael Abene and Michael Gibbs, and a wonderfully responsive six-piece band, it adds up to an hour of constant surprise and gentle delight.

DAVE GELLY