Here's something to warm the heart in these dark, sad times. A new CD from an Estonian singer I'd never previously heard of (apologies to Ms Aleksandra – that really demonstrates the shameful gaps in my musical knowledge, rather than saying anything about her reputation or talents) falls through my letterbox one gloomy January morning and… guess what? It's an absolute corker!

Susanna Alexandra was born in Estonia in the late 1980s, when the Baltic nation was still part of the old USSR; after spending some time in France and the US, she settled in Finland, absorbing the country's vibrant jazz scene. She released her debut Miracles in 2015, and a second album, Souls of the Night, exclusively in Japan last March. Now Souls has been repurposed for wider international release via Eclipse Music as The Siren, and is the work of a confident, accomplished vocalist on the verge of a major breakthrough. As a singer, she knows how to sound intimate and seductive without having to trowel on the ‘sexy’ stuff; she just sounds natural, being able to interpret and ride the climaxes and spaces of the music with ease. Nowhere is this more true than on a delightful cover of Oscar Levant and Edward Heyman's ‘Blame It On My Youth’, which just oozes wistful regret: she's one of those singers who, at her best, inhabits a song like an actor, rather than just sings it.

She's not just a pretty voice though – her writing is first-rate (she wrote or co-wrote seven of the 11 tunes here): ‘Clumsy’ is a witty take on desire; ‘Summer Came Early’ is a splendid meditation on new love; and the shimmering ‘The Love Song’ is just… well, gorgeous, and could well become a standard one day.

Just as impressive are the contributions of pianist Haavisto, whose compositions (‘Your Path’, ‘Souls of the Night’ and a fine re-setting of the traditional Finnish folk tune ‘Ruusu Laaksossa’) are the equal of Aleksandra's. His easy, melodic playing, full of glistening cascades and dramatic swells, perfectly complements the singer (his synth playing is delightfully subtle too), and is given sympathetic support from the rhythm section, which knows how to make itself essential without ever being obtrusive.

Smooth, effortless and accessible without ever being bland, this is a mainstream jazz album to treasure, with Aleksandra a real talent to watch. You'll be happy to fall under The Siren's spell.