Another of
Dakota Staton's fine outings from the latter half of the '50s,
More Than the Most finds the singer working her magic on a varied selection of standards and relatively obscure sides. While maybe not as well-regarded as her famous debut, The Late, Late Show, this
Staton release stands as one of the singer's better early efforts. Enveloped in
Sid Feller's urbane mix of romantic ballad backdrops and West Coast-style swingers,
Staton wraps her coyly seductive pipes around standouts like "East of the Sun," "September in the Rain," and "Some Days It's Monday." Mixing in some of
Dinah Washington's muscle and
Sarah Vaughan's airy sophistication,
Staton ably navigates this fine program of classic pop-jazz. ~ Stephen Cook