by Jason AnkenyThe first in a series of little-known but sublime Helen Merrill sessions recorded in Japan during the mid-1960s, In Tokyo pairs the singer with drummer Takeshi Inomata, whose atmospheric small-combo arrangements evoke (and subtly update) her classic Mercury efforts. The set relies heavily on romantic standards like "Someday My Prince Will Come," "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" and "I'm a Fool to Want You," all perfectly calibrated to Merrill's lithe, lovely vocals--at first blush, Inomata's cool, textured arrangements emphasize restraint almost to the point of effortlessness, but upon subsequent listening the album emerges as a model of sophistication and grace.