The pulling power of the names of top stars is quite strong. Here the attraction is
Bob Dorough who is "featured" on jazz vocalist
Debby Yeager's initial album. "Featured" translates into duets with
Yeager on two of the album's 12 cuts. Nonetheless, after this release
Yeager should have some pulling power of her own. Showing an affinity to a wide swath of Latin music, she combines that syncopation of a jazz singer with the lyrical feel of a good cabaret singer, where that feel is needed. But it's the use of her voice as an instrument that sets her apart. On an exhilarating, exciting "Songo Mongo" her wordless vocalizing fits right in there with the pulsating piano of
Mark Massey and the tenor sax of
Doug Webb and
Steve Crum on trumpet. There are times when
Yeager comes across like a one-person
New York Voices or
Manhattan Transfer, so much energy does she exude with her voice. Other times she can deliver an ear-grabbing version of a tune like "My Little Boat" with distinctive and, more important, subtle phrasing. There is no need to pull any vocal gimmick from the bag of vocal tricks to put the song across. And once more, her voice is part of the overall musical tableau in which this song is presented and which makes it one of the more attractive tracks on the CD. The fretless bass of
Marco Mendoza is prominent. Setting aside the voice as an instrument approach for a while, she gives full ballad treatment to "The Day It Rained" riding atop
Webb's soulful flute, and has some fun with spoken semi-novelty tune "True Turtle Tale." Oh yes, the two cuts with
Dorough are OK too, with "Nothing Like You" the better of the two cuts. ~ Dave Nathan