Gloria Cooper: Dedicated to You

This very pleasing offering came as a result of Gloria Cooper's editing of the Second Floor Music publication Sing Jazz. She was not familiar with many of the songs covered in the publication, prompting her to record a new disc featuring some of this material.

A large number these songs started out as instrumentals, with lyrics added much later. Because of this, it seems quite appropriate that Cooper treats her voice as an instrument, rather than taking an out-front approach. Since her voice has a soft quality, this makes for a successful formula, captured to perfection by Rudy Van Gelder's engineering talents.

The instrumentalists are Cooper (piano), Don Sickler (trumpet/flugelhorn), Wayne Escoffery (tenor and soprano saxophones), Freddie Bryant (guitar), Tim Givens (bass) and Vince Cherico (drums). Sickler handled all the arrangements, with the exception of "Dedicated To You and "Come Rain Or Come Shine, which were arranged by Cooper. Cooper's one original is "Reveling In The Beat," with lyrics by jazz journalist Ira Gitler. Bryant's guitar shines on this track.

The tunes all have a fine ensemble feel, with good solos. Cooper's piano work is of the less-is-more school and is very tasty throughout, but her voice is what makes the material work.