JAZZ ALBUM REVIEWS : Reeves Scores With an Ambitious Effort

*** Dianne Reeves, “Art and Survival,” EMI/Capitol. This multitextured experiment, with its frequent spiritual-based stories, is Reeves’ most ambitious effort. Her lyrics and/or music for several of the songs were collaborations with her producer, Eddie Del Barrio. The words range from touchingly evocative (“Old Souls” and “Come to the River”) to slightly pretentious (“Endangered Species”). “Body and Soul” undergoes an excessive harmonic transformation, but “Bird Alone” captures the spirit of Abbey Lincoln’s lyrics and music. *** Ralph Moore, “Who It Is You Are,” Savoy. Though Moore is a pleasant, capable tenor player, it is pianist Benny Green who lights up his life here, particularly in the gospel-tinged “Testifyin’.” Other strong cuts are Moore’s own “Samba,” “Esmeralda” and a welcome revival of “Recado Bossa Nova.” The double-up version of “Skylark” simply doesn’t work, reducing the tune’s melodic impact. Moore, for the moment, seems to be unsure who it is he is.