Appraising a jazz singer, male or female, is never easy; there are so many variables to consider. First, of course, is the voice, which must be lucid and pleasing to the ears. Respect for a lyric is important, as is articulation, which is bound closely to emotion; too little can be seen as tedious, too much as contrived. This, apart from choice of material, blending of tempo and mood, and the size and composition of the singer's backup group. When all of those pieces—and more—blend seamlessly together, the inevitable result is a memorable recording.

On Everything Must Change, the third album to date by singer Susan Krebs and her band, some parts fit together neatly, others somewhat less so. As Krebs's name is on the marquee and her bio is impressive, a few words about her are in order. Before moving to Los Angeles several years ago, Krebs began her career as an actress/singer in off-Broadway plays and musicals while performing with the improvisational theatre company War Babies. She has acted on television, in films, in radio and TV commercials, headlined her own solo musical revue and performed in a contemporary opera. Jazz singing was always close to her heart, and she studied with