LaVerne Butler
has recorded only sporadically since her 1992 debut, but it isn't due to a lack of talent. Steeped in jazz with an appreciation for R&B, she tackles a mix of Broadway tunes and pop, backed by her frequent collaborator, the gifted pianist
Bruce Barth
, who also penned the arrangements, along with bassist
Ugonna Okegwo
and drummer
Rudy Royston
, with tenor saxophonist
Houston Person
added on seven tracks.
Butler
makes it all sound effortless with her expressive alto, gliding through the arrangements as if they've long been part of her repertoire instead of being created just before the sessions. She makes the most of the variety of music, excelling in standards like "I've Told Ev'ry Little Star" and a forgotten gem like
Rodgers & Hammerstein
's "In My Own Little Corner," but really delivers with a memorable rendition of
Charlie Chaplin
's decades-old tearful ballad "Smile."
Person
's presence is welcome, reminiscent of his many appearances in support of the late singer
Etta Jones
, adding a soulful touch that complements
on "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home," "Travelin' Light," and "Be Anything (But Be Mine)." ~ Ken Dryden