Deborah Brown: International Incident

Kansas City-reared jazz singer Deborah Brown employs an international, multicultural little big band to make progressive American vocal jazz, managing the logistics brilliantly to produce one of the best vocal recitals of the year. This fearless repertoire maven is not afraid of even the stickiest subjects.

On International Incident,, Brown takes on two Johnny Griffin compositions ("Take My Hand" and "Make Up You Mind"), Thad Jones' "A Child is Born," and Pat Metheny's "Always and Forever." These are certainly not your typical standards, but Brown and her crack band make their performance sound easy and very enjoyable.

All the songs on the disc were originally instrumentals that later had lyrics applied. Some are delivered in a typical vocalese fashion ("Make Up Your Mind"), navigating Griffin's craggy lines, while others sound down right novel, as in the lengthy "Western Ballad."

"Western Ballad" is centered on the rhythm section with horn filigree. It is a beautiful treatment. Brown's able band never gets in the way but does exist on an equal footing with the singer. All solos are well constructed and intelligent, no sloppiness here. This group of professionals came to do what they know best—play.