Foolish Thing to Do
The jazz world can only hope that as the highly elusive wider audience shops for the latestDiana Krallalbum, they also discover other young jazz vocalists. Laverne Butler is more than a worthy suggestion. Her second album is a dandy that seems to be presented in two distinct parts. The first five selections showcase that dichotomy of the rough, lonely, blues life being confessed through song by a tender female possessed of an incredibly pretty, clear voice, i.e.Billie HolidayandDinah Washington. Whether or not she's crossing the country for love, as suggested in the clever lyric toWes Montgomery's classic "West Coast Blues," or smoking and drinking too much, as in the standard "The End of a Love Affair," or even if she's actually killed her man and done time, as Butler convincingly conveys in her original tile track, she's believable in the roles. If the latter portion of the 12-song disc isn't a tribute to one of Butler's obvious influence,Nancy Wilson, it certainly sounds like it. Throughout the album,Bruce Barth, the pianist, arranger and MVP here, bathes Butler in lush string settings and sparse, inventive, contemporary arrangements throughout this winner.--Mark Ruffin