Tenderly

Released in 2015, Tenderly represents a significant collaborative milestone in Stacey Kent's career, pairing her with the iconic Brazilian composer and guitarist Roberto Menescal. While Kent has long incorporated bossa nova influences into her work, this album leans fully into that aesthetic by centering Menescal's nylon-string guitar as the primary harmonic engine. The repertoire consists largely of standards from the Great American Songbook, but they are performed with a minimalist, chamber-jazz sensibility that eschews the typical polish of studio jazz for something more raw and immediate. Critics noted the album for its 'exquisite restraint' and the natural chemistry between Kent’s airy vocals and Menescal’s rhythmic sophistication. It stands as one of the most stripped-back entries in her discography, highlighting her ability to carry a narrative through subtle vocal dynamics rather than power.