JAZZ REVIEW : ALEXANDRIA MAINTAINS STANDARDS AT DONTE’S

Lorez Alexandria, one of jazz music’s “second tier” of female singers whose both names need mentioning to be recognized, began a two-night stint Friday at Donte’s in North Hollywood where she wended her way through a pleasant and entertaining set of swing and ballad standards.

Alexandria has a phrasing style that constantly has her stretching the short lines into long, the long into short. It is a purposeful, studied style that, while sounding natural enough, frequently puts her at seeming odds with the superb accompanying trio of pianist Gildo Mahones, bassist Allen Jackson and drummer Clarence Johnston. While phrases begun by singer and trio ended together, the in-between times were occasionally awkward.

Her style is best suited to the ballad form, and on such tunes as Duke Ellington’s “I’ve Got It Bad and That Ain’t Good” and Johnny Mercer’s “Bittersweet” Alexandria was most effective. The swing side offered tasty delights with “I Remember You” and “What a Difference a Day Makes.”