Kevyn Lettau, Peter Sprague, Michael Shapiro - BrazilJazz (1991)

Before signing with JVC in 1992, Kevyn Lettau recorded two albums for Nova: first came her self-titled debut album, followed by Brasiljazz in 1991. On this collection of jazzy Brazilian pop, the singer is joined by guitarist Peter Sprague and percussionist Michael Spiro. A hit at NAC radio, Brasiljazz demonstrated that Lettau was a competent, pleasant singer who could be charming. But it was also the work of someone whose performances could have been more exciting and less conservative. Had George Duke produced a Brazilian-oriented project for Lettau, chances are she would have really soared instead of delivering an album that is simply pleasant. Lettau gets into a straight-ahead jazz groove on an enjoyable version of Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose" and even delivers some Sarah Vaughan-influenced scat singing, but make no mistake: this is a pop album first and foremost.