Southern Exposure

Vocalist Dorothy Doring's second CD includes standards, well-known jazz compositions, and a few pop tunes from the 1960s. Backed by a potent group, including keyboardist David Torkanowsky (who also provided the arrangements) and guitarist Steve Masakowski, Doring's slightly raspy vocals have an appealing sound, given the right material and charts. Her deliberate treatment of the sad ballad "Besame Mucho" captures the essence of the song, which is often overlooked. The breezy setting of "A Nightengale Sang in Berkeley Square" is also delightful. John Coltrane's "Giant Steps" is a bit unusual, as it is primarily an instrumental feature, but her brief appearance at the beginning and end of this miniature proves effective. But the dull setting of "Nice Work If You Can Get It" is far too bland, dominated by electric piano and Latin percussion, while the R&B-flavored scoring of "What the World Needs Now" is practically in smooth jazz territory. Another source of frustration is the failure to identify which of the two tenor saxophonists (Derek Douget or Tim Green) is the featured soloist on each track. This eclectic CD will have its share of listeners, though jazz fans will likely have a few misgivings with it.