JONES AT TRACY’S

A singer like Geraldine Jones, whose raspy contralto and staccato delivery is so perfectly suited for certain songs, should fill her repertoire with those songs. But if she insists on singing unsuitable material, as she did during her opening set Friday night at Tracy’s in Sherman Oaks, she should at least listen to the advice of the lyrics.

Her opening “I’m Singing This Song for You” comes to mind. So unfocused was her delivery that she didn’t seem to be singing it for anybody. And Jones would have been wise to realize that the line “give me a beat now” from “Drift Away” would have worked with a rhythm section, rather than just the piano accompaniment provided by Sergio Minervini.

“Take a Look at Me Now” was ego-felt, however, as she strutted wildly about the stage, no doubt looking for scenery to chew. Like the later “When I Fall in Love,” which seemed more a threat than a desire, the ballad was rendered at a whispered scream. It was a most unusual concept that failed to work either musically or emotionally.

It did serve to intimidate, however, and Jones, who no doubt learned the tricks of her trade trying to either catch the attention of Las Vegas lounge patrons or hail a cab, had no problem getting her audience to snap, clap or sing along on command. And it didn’t seem to matter to her whether such activities were appropriate to the songs.

Jones did score with a medley of songs from “Porgy and Bess.” Perhaps she took the Gershwin tunes more seriously than she did the others, but her gentle, evocative reading was appropriate and musically rewarding.

Opening for Jones was the house trio of pianist Marty Harris, bassist Jack Hanna and drummer Dick Berk. Their three-tune be-bop set was vigorous, and club owner Bill Tracy showed himself a capable singer with his swinging versions of “Nice and Easy” and “A Foggy Day in London Town.”