Rating: 4 Pulses

Reminiscent of the jazz sounds of Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, Rachel Pearl’s Love Extravagantly offers a surprising selection of jazzy and soulful material sure to prove the Music City area isn’t all about country.

Love Extravagantly contains seven original songs and four covers. Pearl’s rendition of “My Funny Valentine” is seductive and enchanting, while her duet with Nashville folk rocker and co-writer Jeremy Lister on “Baby Blue” is playful. She demonstrates her vocal range in the opener, “Don’t Play With Fire,” alternating her breathy singing voice with a deeper, more sultry sound.

Pearl takes command on “Pins & Needles,” revealing the musical expression of her self-proclaimed “happy and sexy” persona. The rest of the album follows suit, dabbling in seduction and innocence.

Rachel Pearl takes us back in time with her nostalgic-sounding jazz classics, yet adds a taste of the new millennium. On her ode to a perfect lover, in “You’re the Top,” she reminds us this is a very modern album when she refers to someone being as important and large as Oprah’s salary.

The accompanying musicians and instruments are equally as diverse as Pearl’s singing voice. The music ranges from a mellow piano sound to a faster-paced bassline, as well as some string instruments.

Although the slower songs are engaging, the only downfall is a lack of more upbeat and memorable songs. However, Pearl proves her strengths lay in her ability to produce slow and sultry ballads.

Lyrically, the album provides creative and catchy phrases. True to its title, it is a celebration of love and Pearl conveys this deep passion in the depth of her voice.

For anyone curious, but scared, to try out jazz, Love Extravagantly is a great place to start. It is sweetly simplistic but still excels artistically. An even bigger bonus, you and your grandparents might just have your first favorite artist in common.

Rachel Pearl’s CD release show will be May 26 at the Rutledge in Nashville.