Cyndra Fyore: Steam Heat

Using her three and one half octave range to great advantage, Fyore waltzes through twelve tunes, two of which she composed. Her range gives her options to chose from in her delivery which here runs from cute and swinging to exotically sultry all within the framework of the jazz song. She sings into Chip Jackson's bass on "I've Got the World on a String" (recalling Slam Stewart's clever use of this technique} as she vamps through this 1932 standard. On the title tune "Steam Heat", Fyore "shoo-doos", her words for scatting. This is not the scatting most of us are used. It's more like syncopated humming mixed with the eccentric sounds that she creates. This track more than any reveals Fyore's approach to vocalizing. Like a true jazz singer, she uses her voice as an instrument. Rather than treating her colleagues as sidemen backing her vocal endeavors, she is the instrument which gets most of the solo time. The only problem is that the words sometimes get muffled.

A softer side comes to the fore on "A Time for Love", opened by the soulful tenor of Houston Person. The benefits of a voice with a wide range again are apparent as she uses slight swoops but avoids the temptation to let loose with her strong voice which could overwhelm the lyrics. Rather she lays down a rhapsodic, persuasive melody line on the slower numbers. And Mr. Person has his way with this tune improvising in, around, beneath and over the melody line. This track is a true tour de force performance as the intertwining of voice and sax on the coda is remarkable.

Accompanied by a fine group of jazz professionals, Fyore's style combines the best of Cleo Laine, Rose Murphy and Anita O'Day. This CD is a good addition to the vocal jazz library and is recommended.