Take This Journey

by Ken DrydenChristy Baron's third CD for Chesky is promoted by liner note writer David Finck (who plays bass and wrote two of the originals on this session) as featuring a singer who is a "true communicator." While she is a pleasant singer, she fits more into pop (or AAA, for those who classify by radio terminology) than into jazz. The excessive reliance on empty pop songs, especially the three bland works by Carole King and the friendly but banal "Happy Together" (a huge hit for the Turtles in the 1960s) make this disc of minimal interest to serious jazz fans. There are some successful detours into standards and jazz compositions, including "That Old Devil Moon" and "You Are There" (co-composed by the great Johnny Mandel and the underrated Dave Frishberg). Even though the supporting cast provides more than ample support, the CD doesn't stand up to singers who make jazz their forte rather than a sideline.