Rickie Lee Jones: Pieces of Treasure (BMG/digital outlets)

There's a photograph of Frank Sinatra in 1948 at a studio piano learning a song from a long haired, bearded guy. Had it appeared 20 years later we'd identify the guy – eden ahbez, who favoured the lower case – as a hippie. But ahbez was man ahead, and out, of his time.

Sandal-wearing, vegetarian, mostly living outdoors and studying esoteric literature, ahbez wrote the song Sinatra was learning, Nature Boy which, two months previous, had been a number one hit for Nat “King” Cole.

Given Rickie Lee Jones' affection for standards and outsiders, it's little surprise to find Nature Boy on Pieces of Treasure, a collection drawing on The Great American Songbook which includes the Gershwins' They Can't Take That Away From Me and There Will Never Be Another You, It's All in the Game, One For My Baby, September Song and All the Way, many associated with Sinatra.

Avoiding her slurry speak-sing style, Jones approaches these wonderful songs straight, sometimes swinging but warm on the intimate ballads.

Pieces of Treasure -- produced by Russ Titelman who steered her self-titled debut and its follow-up Pirates more than 40 years ago – is another look back by Jones after loosely autobiographical concerts and 2021 memoir Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American Troubadour.

But – aside from One For the Road which suffers in the Sinatra comparison and the familiarity of these songs -- it's tastefully selected and performed by Jones and the small band.

An enjoyable project reflecting her influences and passion before she became the famous boho-Beat in a beret.

.

Elsewhere has a feature on eden ahbez here

.

You can hear this album on Spotify here.