Feed the Fire
Lionel Hampton nicknamed her "Betty Bebop" way back when--and  the soul of bebop was alive and kickin' in Betty Carter when this 1993 live set  was recorded at London's Royal Festival Hall. It's a kind of dream date, with  Carter accompanied by pianist Gerri Allen, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer  Jack DeJohnnette.  So what I want to say is: "Wow."  I guess that's  not a very articulate critical observation, but as Carter (a sizzling scat  singer) knows, sometimes words just aren't enough to say what needs to be  expressed.  Some jazz singers (like Billie Holiday or Shirley Horn) don't stray  too far from the melody in their improvisations, but Carter takes off and flies  like the great bebop sax/horn players.  The arrangements on these 10 songs  sometimes deliberately downplay the melodies--like a mysteriously beautiful  "Lover Man" that Billie Holiday would never recognize.  Slowed almost  to a standstill and built around a piano figure that echoes Herbie Hancock's  "Maiden Voyage," the words are familiar, but the tune is  almost  undetectable.  Carter's up to something else altogether, and makes spine- tingling music.--Jim Emerson