Remembering Mabel Mercer, Vol. 2 (feat. Keith Ingham, James Chirillo & Greg Cohen)

Although she does not sound like Mabel Mercer, Joyce Breach learned the importance of understatement from the highly influential cabaret singer. On this second disc in her tribute to Mercer, Breach performs 20 songs out of her huge repertoire. The backing is jazz-oriented, with pianist Keith Ingham leading an excellent swing-based trio. Laurie Goldstein guests on bassoon on three numbers. Breach is a warm and masterful interpreter of lyrics. She successful revives such Mercer-associated songs as "After You," "The Riviera," "My Love Is a Wanderer," and a variety of superior obscurities. Certainly "Merely Marvelous" and Cole Porter's "Ace in the Hole" are not performed all that often, but Joyce Breach makes them sound like they should be standards. Recommended.