NEW RELEASES : Striking, Smoky Tribute to Ray Charles

SHIRLEY HORN

“Light Out of Darkness”

Verve

* * * 1/2

At first, Horn might seem a questionable choice to handle the material on this album, which is a tribute to Ray Charles and covers 15 tunes recorded by the esteemed artist. After all, Charles’ approach is immediate and direct, while Horn relishes understatement and innuendo. But both singers’ styles are based around the magical ability to translate lyrics into believable stories coupled with the unshakable rhythmic feel of a drummer.

Still, this is a risky venture and Horn takes it on almost single-handedly--accompanying herself at the piano and assisted by a quartet sparked by altoist Gary Bartz. Sometimes she seems naked: It’s just her voice and the words.

The program is comprised of mostly medium slow to slow vehicles--”Just for a Thrill,” “Drown in My Own Tears,” “Georgia on My Mind”--that are ideally suited to Horn’s smoky, just-woke-up voice. She gives these numbers a striking intimacy, as if she’s whispering secrets she’s never told another soul.

In contrast, the tunes with rhythmic bite--”Bye Bye Love,” “I Got a Man”--stand out like a woman in a pastel print dress in an elevator full of men in gray suits.

With each new release, Horn proves herself to be one of the finest jazz singers of this, or any, day.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four (excellent).