With her rich, jazz- and gospel-informed contralto, Anita Baker is one of the modern era's best soul singers. And this 18-song collection pays fine tribute to the sophisticated chanteuse, who sadly hasn't released a new recording since 1994's
Rhythm of Love. The opening ballad, "Angel," taken from Baker's excellent yet oft-overlooked 1983 debut,
The Songstress, is still a real tear-jerker. Likewise, her breakthrough hits "Sweet Love, "You Bring Me Joy," and "Caught Up in the Rapture," from her Grammy-winning sophomore disc,
Rapture, sound as endearing and vibrant as ever. Baker continued her reign as Queen of the Quiet Storm with 1988's
Giving You the Best That I Got, which spawned several gems, including the hymnlike "Lead Me into Love" and the bluesy "Good Love." Even more reflective of her jazz influences (Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Nancy Wilson) was 1990's
Compositions, which produced the wistful "Fairy Tales" and the encouraging "Talk to Me." The nostalgic disc ends with three highlights from
Rhythm of Love, including the piano- and harmony-driven "Body and Soul." Baker's vocal ingenuity, feminine grace, and romantic sense of style -- remember her classy but curvaceous dresses with the flowing hemlines? -- make her a clear precursor of the new legion of female R&B singers, including Jill Scott, Mary J. Blige, and Alicia Keys, who have found the courage to sing from the soul and forge their own identities. Baker has always given her fans the best that she's got, and
The Best of Anita Baker leaves us anxiously awaiting more.
![Title: Beaches [Original Soundtrack]](https://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0075678193323_p0_v1_s90x140.jpg)
