More Than The Most

by Stephen CookAnother of Dakota Staton's fine outings from the latter half of the '50s, More Than the Most finds the singer working her magic on a varied selection of standards and relatively obscure sides. While maybe not as well-regarded as her famous debut, The Late, Late Show, this Staton release stands as one of the singer's better early efforts. Enveloped in Sid Feller's urbane mix of romantic ballad backdrops and West Coast-style swingers, Staton wraps her coyly seductive pipes around standouts like "East of the Sun," "September in the Rain," and "Some Days It's Monday." Mixing in some of Dinah Washington's muscle and Sarah Vaughan's airy sophistication, Staton ably navigates this fine program of classic pop-jazz.