Donna Deussen - On the Street Where You Live (2014)

Here’s a nice bouncy album of jazz vocals. Donna Deussen has a warmer than Tierney Sutton tone to her voice, and teams it up well with guitarist Paul Weitz and his cast of Matt VanBenschoten/b and Gus Duffy/dr , along with some cameos. She does some clever things with 60s pop tunes like “California Dreamin’” and “Both Sides Now” giving a bit of flair to the folk tunes. Geoff Nudell adds some flute to the latter, while his clarinet makes the cozy take of “Fly Me to the Moon” quite alluring. Deussen sounds assured and assuring on the intimate take of “The Very Thought of You” and gets a bit spry with Duffy who shifts gears like a Ghia during “On the Street Where You Live.” Her tone can exude confidence and sass during a strutting “Sister Sadie” which features a gleam in Deussen’s eye. Fun and inviting session~ By George W. Harris