AFTER being absent from the music scene for the last 10 years, there's a welcome return this month for arguably the finest female soul singer of her generation, Anita Baker.

The multi-Grammy Award winner, pictured right, decided to take a break' back in 1994 to spend quality time with her husband and two young sons but I don't think anyone quite imagined, herself included, that she would be away from music for such a long time.

Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, Baker first came to public attention in the early 80s as a singer with the group Chapter Eight. But it was her solo album The Songstress' WHICH really made many discerning music lovers sit up and take notice.

The rest, as they say, is history as Baker's follow-up album 1995's stunning Rapture' made her a soul superstar and became the biggest selling album of her career.

Further success followed with Giving You The Best That I Got', Compositions' and The Rhythm Of Love' and at that time, Baker was unequalled as a song stylist.

Thankfully, that voice', instantly recognisable and wonderfully rich, has not been diminished by the passage of time and Baker's new album My Everything' is a brilliant return to form.

No longer signed to Elektra, the record label with which she made her name, My Everything' finds her very much at home with EMI Records' jazz label Blue Note. And this seems an entirely appropriate place for her to be pitching her tent right now since the album has a much stronger jazz edge to it than any previous releases.

Few singers have the natural ability to communicate a song as well as Baker and her expressive vocal skills are in evidence from start to finish on My Everything'. Each time you think you have selected a favourite track, I can guarantee that another one will get right under your skin and become a fresh contender.

At the time of writing, it's the songs How Does it Feel', You're My Everything' and the record's final cut, Men In My Life' that really do it for this particular listener.

For the many who have been waiting patiently for the re-emergence of Anita Baker, My Everything' is an album that, dare I say it, has almost been worth the wait and, by the time the Grammy's come around again early next year, you can expect to see Anita Baker going home with her hands full.