Lea DeLaria: Play It Cool

On , her debut CD for , vocalist reinterprets 11 compositions from contemporary , including from , , and . Her vocal instrument is both complementary and unique in its interpretations of the lyrics, and covers a broad range of , both comedy and drama. This is not an easy task. utilizes several vocal techniques to bring each song to life, including scatting, elongated phrasing, swing, and balladeering. She also makes excellent use of the basic skills of music theory: harmony, rhythm, and melody. Among the more memorable highlights on the CD is her great phrasing and delivery on . Her vocals provide an excellent foil for the saxophone voices of , who play tenor, baritone, alto, and bass, respectively. Her up-tempo swinging rendition of is a refreshing change from the overly used approach of the / hit from . She's doing great things on this CD, and it is one any collector of Broadway would appreciate having in his or her collection. ~ Paula Edelstein