For this change of pace, singer/pianist
Shirley Horn performs 15 songs associated with
Ray Charles. Of course,
Horn sounds nothing like
Charles, but she sometimes captures his spirit on such songs as "Hit the Road, Jack," "You Don't Know Me" (which finds her switching to organ), "Makin' Whoopee" and "How Long Has This Been Going On." Joined by her regular trio (with bassist
Charles Ables and drummer Steve Willliams), some of the songs have
Ables switching effectively to guitar, while
Tyler Mitchell fills in on bass. Altoist
Gary Bartz guests on five of the dozen selections. While emphasizing ballads, as one always expects, this is a fun set that includes more medium-tempo tunes than usual for a
Shirley Horn set. ~ Scott Yanow