The two men and two women of Australia's The Idea of North stepped on the 2003 Harmony Sweepstakes stage after a very strong field had done its amazing thing, and proceeded to leave no doubt who were truly the National Champs. This CD, their third, is further "Evidence" that the group is one of the finest Contemporary/Jazz groups in the world. 12 songs, Antonio Carlos Jobim's upbeat "No More Blues" and moody "Corcovado," a marvelous cover of Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely," a blue-note rendering of the Gospel song, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow," the title tune­ a brilliant jazz tribute to Thelonius Monk, the soaring polyphonic original by soprano Trish Delaney Brown, "Simple Feast," the salsa-flavored "Just Kidding," with words and arrangement by Brown, "Rachel," another stunning original by Brown, Gershwin's "But Not For Me" (featuring James Morrison on Flugelhorn), another original by Brown, "We Will Find A Way" and finishing with "After All," from the poem by Henry Lawson that includes the hope of all of us " For I must believe that the world my dear, is a kind world after all," beautifully put to music by Brown. The lyrics are all in a generous, blue-toned liner notes booklet, which just underlines how excellently TION does absolutely everything. Their performance as hosts of the '04 Finals drew us to our feet in an extended standing ovation. We love this group!

Listen to No More Blues in RealAudio.