KJ Denhert calls herself Urban Folk and Jazz and certainly the disc contains a strong influence from these genres. Her sense of rhythm is strong and immediately striking. But her voice is the factor, she is throaty and well equipped to tackle her chosen genre. I first saw KJ many years ago in a small bar in New York City's West Village. I did not know what to expect as my friend and I just stopped in for a drink and she happened to be playing. At that time she had a small but fiercely loyal following and I remember enjoying the music a great deal. I remember her working the crowd between sets, selling CDs and talking with the fans. I do not remember the name of the woman I was on the date with, I do not remember the name of the bar, but what I
do remember is that I thought this music deserved a larger venue.  
 
Denhert's voice is sultry and she is the obvious leader and driving force behind this
band. She wrote or co-wrote every track on the disc, with the exception of two covers,
'She Loves You' by Lennon/McCartney, 'Message In A Bottle' by Sting, and an old traditional 'Oh Susannah.' Although these songs are covers they are not clones, Denhert has a unique vision for arrangement and it shows. I would classify the album
as acoustic jazz with hints of old school rhythm and blues included for good measure.
Denhert's lyrics show a keen incite into urban life. KJ also has a gift for playing guitar
and her lines are interesting and unimitable. At the time I saw Dernhert, some four
years ago, I bought her current release 'Looking Forward, Looking Back' and while it is a good listen 'girl like me..' absolutely shows her growth. She can handle a dark and sombre ballad at one moment and turn things around with a bright love song next. Along with Denhert's voice, the rhythm lines are what really make this disc a success. Her strong roots and clear understanding of how to manipulate jazz are apparent throughout the record.  
 
The three covers on the disc are strong and because of the arrangements are uniquely KJ. Denhert is the independent owner and founder of her label Mother Cyclone Records. She says, "I want to grow the label and just keep writing," 'How Many Ways' really slows things down showcasing Denhert as an artist who can also carry a ballad with
ease. 'I Like Your Face' is funky and uplifting. It is a song about showing the fears associated with liking someone's face and being afraid of what is really under
there.  'Message In A Bottle' is a great arrangement of a now standard tune. KJ chooses to close with a traditional, reminding us all of her roots, but she adds a new twist. This is not the 'Old Susannah' you sat around the campfire snging. The
tempo is slow and the song takes on a deeper meaning.  
 
I like KJ, I liked her from the first time I saw her, and if roots jazz and acoustic with
an urban flair is something you enjoy, or if you just like great and unique singer/songwriter tunes, you will love KJ Denhert. The mark of a great disc is that it
leaves you wanting more and KJ accomplishes that to perfection.

Dennis Halsey
The Best Female Musicians