Secular Hymns

This French-American vocalist and guitarist is a skilled songwriter, but on this covers collection, her trio (with guitar, bass and vocals) focuses on vintage blues and folk. On “Tango Till They’re Sore”, Peyroux turns the Tom Waits tune into a jazzy cabaret number, holding select notes dramatically and leaving the eccentric yowls. The warmth of her voice stands out when she plays Allen Toussaint’s “Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On)” like a piece of hushed, late-night blues.