JAZZ REVIEW : BRAZIL’S KENIA AT AT MY PLACE

The Brazilian jazz singer Kenia (pronounced Ken-ya), who has recently moved to Los Angeles, seemed to be on a teeter-totter Thursday at At My Place, as her show slid back and forth between moving pluses and uninspiring minuses.

While not gifted with a great voice--she worked comfortably in less than two octaves--Kenia wisely sang a lot in her low-to-middle register, where her husky chest tones were very appealing. When she reached for higher notes, her voice sometimes flattened out, losing both quiver and intonation.

What Kenia lacked in the vocal department, she partly made up for with a vivacious stage presence. And she displayed a solid rhythmic feel that helped put across some of the weaker selections.

Her short, six-tune opening set began with “Madelena,” where she issued steamy, foggy tones and then rose to higher ground in good form, and “A Little Tear,” which she sang with a beguiling tenderness. “Creepin’ ” and “Missing You” were nondescript renderings, but “Voice of Brazil” contained warm melodic spots--her forte.

Kenia’s backing quartet provided ebullient support.

Brazilian Winds, a local sextet featuring singer Rosina, guitarist Carlos Oliva and keyboardist Liz Kinnon, opened the show with nine high-energy, contemporary Brazilian/jazz songs. This exuberant band was ultimately rhythm heavy, as Rosina’s vocals were all but eclipsed by bashing accompaniment. But on “Sina,” things quieted down and a lilting freshness emerged, abetted by Kinnon’s fluid piano solo.