Another fine debut album released this summer is Easy to Love by the talented, 20-year old Seattle songbird Tess Henley. Her CD contains eight songs that flirt with (nu) soul and pop, all penned down by Tess herself and exposing her exceptional ability as a piano player and vocalist. Immediate prove of this is the album opener Intro to Pompi's Song and the 'mother track' itself Pompi's Song, an ode to her late grandfather with a heart - warming lyric ('He told me to be just me. He taught me so graciously. He showed me that there's only one way to live. And that's humbly.') and beautiful gospel intermezzos. As a 20-year old, Tess proves to be quite a strong songwriter from time to time. For example, Complicated tells the story about the vulnerability of a close friendship ... feels like more but is too precious to expose to the 'hidden dangers' of love. Superb lyric in a soulish dress. I also would like to highlight the title track Easy to Love in here. This song reminds me of tracks that I would like to call 'Sunday morning soul'. You know that feeling ... waking up on a Sunday after a great night's sleep, spring sun is projecting its first warm beams of the year through the fresh, olive green oak leaves and you feel like a million euros or dollars. The nightingale singing that morning can be Tess Henley for me every time. With a debut of this standard and the knowledge that Tess has her best years still in front of her, I predict a golden future for this very promising artist. Eight tracks for a full album, might come in a bit short for some buyers but hey ... I'd rather get myself an eight track CD of pure gold than a twenty track album with hyped 'would be' tunes. You go girl ... highly recommended.

A Teach review

Tess Henley Linxxx

> Tess Henley on Myspace
> Buy Easy to Love by Tess Henley