In 2004, the Australian Financial Review stated, “Jensen is that rarest of things in Australian singers – a full blooded, grown up sexy woman unafraid to let her passions and eroticism inform her music in a sophisticated way, beyond the usual raunchy, bluesy stuff.”
Blue Joy is a soulful blend of jazz-treated covers, standards and originals. Blue Joy was No. 8 in JAPAN – in Swing Journal’s (vocal) charts in 2004.
Here is a truly sumptuous album containing beautiful new arrangements of some seriously well-written 70's and 80's classics, plus some excellent original material.
Singer, songwriter and arranger Bonnie J Jensen is absolutely refreshing to hear - intelligent, quality singing and phrasing from one of our own.
Bonnie has assembled a superb band featuring the top players available, including Jonathan Zwartz on double bass, Michael Bartolomei on piano and keys, Fabian Hevia on drums and percussion, Jeremy Sawkins on guitars, Don Rader on trumpet and flugel horn, Craig Walters on Tenor sax and Andrew Oh on flutes. Bartolomei and Jensen have done most of the arrangements, with Zwartz and Sawkins contributing to one piece each. What a line-up!
Jensen sings with a silky, smooth, lush sound that oozes and flows all over the listener, pouring music into every nook and cranny of the body and soul.
In particular, some outstanding tracks include Exactly Like You, here presented in a smooth easy swing arrangement, a wonderful version of Just the Two of Us, a clever arrangement of Rio De Janiero Blue, in which the Latin feel is combined with some searing electric guitar breaks, This Masquerade and Sting's Every Breath You take. Jensen's originals include Free, The Flame and Tokyo Skies, which provides a suitable opening to the entire album."
Tony Magee - www.APRA.com.au | 4/5 *
"A Choice Modern Vocal Album Focused on the Moment."
"Bonnie J Jensen exudes a rich vocal quality she can use freely in all ranges. In "Blue Joy" she displays her ability to sing any type of song. Young jazz fans will find this album very appealing. She is that rare kind of talent who is both a superb singer and a talented original composer. Knowing how popular she is, the Grand Hyatt at Roppongi Hills featured her last year soon after opening. They knew the Japanese guests would appreciate her talent.
She has sung at first class hotels and top lounges around the world, but you will not find her singing with the exaggerated shouts or the fanciful coquetry that club singers are prone to. In that regard, she surely has the grace of someone from 'down under'.
Her very fine backing consists of tenor sax, flute, flugel horn, trumpet, guitar and rhythm section, whose splendid solo performances can be heard throughout. In that sense too, I rate this highly as a choice example of a modern vocal album."
Keiichi Baby, Swing Journal Magazine, Japan, April 2004