JAZZ REVIEW : Bigger Sound Not Better for Lundy

Carmen Lundy, who opened Wednesday at the Vine St. Bar & Grill, was described in a review here last year as an uncompromising jazz singer.

But compromise has since set in. Though there were many bright moments during her opening show, Lundy, who closes Saturday, also appeared to be trying to enlarge her commercial possibilities.

If she wanted a drummer to supply her with heavy, slogging back beats, she has one in Michael White, who supplied hurricane blitzes during Lundy’s lines about gentle breezes. Similarly, if she prefers the electric bass droning of Smitty Smith to the subtleties of a John Clayton, that, too, is what she has.

The less heard of these two, the better Lundy sounded. This was notable on such standards as “Moment to Moment” and “Dindi” in which much of the background was simply furnished by John Beasley on piano or synthesizer.

Such laid-back treatment would have helped songs like “Invitation” and “A Time for Love.” But the trio’s accompaniment managed to fit well on a few numbers, including her ultimate, “Time is Love,” an ingenious Lundy composition in 5/4 time.

In general, it would help if Lundy realized that less is more. Several of the songs were presumably originals--though she didn’t announce any of them.