Debbie Orta - Child's Play (2014)

South Floridian Debbie Orta mixes standards with her own compositions on this upbeat and cheerful session with some top flight sidemen. The team of Mike Orta/key-p, Nicky Orta/b, Ed Maina/woodwinds and Carlomagno Araya/dr mix and match with various guests, making for a wonderfully salsa’d read on “The Way You Look Tonight”and a lovely Brazilian “Bossa Nova Song.” Her inviting and fresh enunciation and dynamics work well on “I’ve Grown Accustomed to His Face” and she can sound like she’s leaning towards Broadway on ”You Are My Child” and the title track.[i] She shows her affinity for bop on the nifty “You’re Mine, You” and her ability to go intimate with Ed Maina’ stenor and Mike’s piano on a gentle “A Song For You.” She’s not afraid of exposing herself, with just a bass and drum, she works well with “Taking a Chance On Love” and sounds vulnerable on “Make Someone Happy.” Smoother than rough, she makes feeling good feel good.~ By George W. Harris