Katie King - One For My Baby (1997)

All too often, talented singers have been sabotaged by clueless A&R people -- if the singer isn't saddled with incompetent musicians, he or she is given inappropriate songs to work with. But One for My Baby is just the opposite; in fact, this CD is an example of intelligent, thoughtful A&R and the right decisions being made.

Katie King is accompanied by competent Seattle jazzmen, and all of the songs chosen are appropriate for her. One of King's strong points is sassy, playful blues, and Z.Z. Hill's "Steppin' Out," Bessie Smith's "Good O' Wagon," and Louis Jordan's "Early in the Morning" are perfect choices. Another major asset is King's sultry, bluesy way with ballads and torch songs, and she couldn't have had more appropriate vehicles than "Everything Happens to Me" and "One for My Baby." Finally, there's King's need for the occasional fast-tempo bop swinger, and "Love Come Back to Me" and "I'm Old Fashioned" fill that need nicely. Because the right decisions were made, One for My Baby paints an appealing and cohesive picture of King's talents. ~Alex Henderson

Katie King - Vocals
Floyd Standifer - Trumpet & Tenor Sax
Billie Wallace - Piano
Doug Miller - Bass
Brian Kirk - Drums
John "Vineet" Davidson - Guitar