SUE RANEY BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER

Sue Raney, who came and went in two nights at the Vine St. Bar & Grill, brings together in a single performance the most desirable elements one looks for in a jazz-inclined singer. Guaranteed in any Raney show: overall concept, choice of material, sensitive interpretation and, for good measure, physical beauty.

On Tuesday evening, her first performance began and ended in a jazz waltz groove, starting with “How’s That for Openers?” written by her pianist, Bob Florence, and closing with “Bluesette.” Vienna was never like this.

Much of the set was devoted to material from her recent album of songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, along with the title tune of that LP, Florence’s charming melody “Flight of Fancy” (lyrics by Raney). This is a virtual guarantee of quality, especially since the Bergmans’ most frequent collaborator is Michel Legrand.

Raney has all the requisite jazz facilities at her command but wisely never abuses them, generally avoiding excessive shifts of melody or phrasing. She just applies her pure sound to such messages as “Take Me Home,” a delightfully simple Bergman lyric to a simply delightful Johnny Mandel melody.

Less successful was what sounded like four songs that were non sequiturs; the reason for linking them, their common origin (they were all by Jerome Kern), might better have been explained in advance.

Raney is gifted with exceptional range, hitting unpredictable high notes with bull’s-eye marksmanship, except for one that didn’t quite make it. Admirable though most of these effects are, she doesn’t have to keep proving she could do it. Just by being Sue Raney, she affords us enough pleasure; no extra frills are needed.