Diane Schuur - Talkin Bout You

Schuur wears her influences on her sleeve and here is most effective when she does. Ray Charles' classic secular gospel sound provides the musical foundation for the LP; and three of his songs, including the lively, gospel-tinged title track and 'Ain't That Love' with the Edwin Hawkins Singers, provide some of the brightest moments. Her musicians, while a solid bunch of session players such as Tom Scott, Will Lee, Mitchel Forman and Steve Gadd, too often sound like the 'Saturday Night Live' Band leading into a commercial break. When all is said and done, though, 'Talkin' remains about the Schuur-est thing this popular young vocalist has yet delivered. Originally released 1988