Sylvia Brooks opens with something beautifully subtle on "Soul Eyes" - her soulful take on Mal Waldron's famous song. The first song on the album sets an intimate emotional tone right away. Brooks gives a composition about opening yourself up to someone on the deepest levels, with depth and gentle understanding.
There's a tenderness you can feel in the way "Soul Eyes" approaches its topic. The performance isn’t too dramatic, but it’s emotionally mature enough to let the song breathe. Brooks delivers the song with a soulfulness that adds a personal element, making it seem like an artist who knows that some of life’s most important relationships involve openness and trust.
"Soul Eyes" also feels like a deliberate way to open the album. It is an emotional environment in which intimacy is important, and from the very beginning such a reflective tone is established. But the beauty of the song is not in excess, but in making way for real feeling.
Brooks adds a certain knowing quality to the performance, making the tune very compelling. Her approach keeps the song's emotional center at the forefront, while the agelessness of Waldron’s composition provides a solid foundation.