Jazz Review : McCorkle Charms, Disappoints at Catalina

Susannah McCorkle, who opened on Tuesday at Catalina Bar & Grill, is a vocal charmer who seems to have a love affair with every song she sings. Whether the lyrics are as hip as Dave Frishberg or as old as Irving Berlin, she is seldom less than totally at ease.

Several of her selections Tuesday were drawn from a generally admirable album, “From Bessie to Brazil,” that shows the range of her repertoire. Occasionally, however, she trips up. Her set opened with a self-conscious song that has long outlived its usefulness, “The Lady Is a Tramp.”

A few pieces were tributes to singers she has admired, but there were no impressions: The Billie Holiday standard “That Old Devil Called Love” became a vehicle for McCorkle’s own graceful sound and style, as was “My Buddy,” inspired by Chet Baker.

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Her growling attempt at a Bessie Smith tune was a nice try, though hampered somewhat by Alan Farnham’s less than blues-drenched piano.

Too many minutes were wasted on a pointless interlude of early Braziliana, supposedly a nod to Carmen Miranda. Far more appropriate to McCorkle’s personality was Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Waters of March,” complete with a touch of Portuguese.

The wry verses of Frishberg’s “Quality Time” and the feminist determination of “The Ballad of Pearly Sue” (written by, of all people, Gerry Mulligan) reflected her intelligent understanding of every lyrical line.

With Farnham in the backup group are Eric Von Essen on bass and Joe Labarber on drums. McCorkle will continue to turn on the charm through Sunday.

* Susannah McCorkle at Catalina Bar & Grill, 1640 N. Cahuenga Blvd. Hollywood, (213) 466-2210. McCorkle plays two sets each night, 9 and 11 p.m., through Sunday.