" data-original-title="" title="">Vicki Burns does a convincing job of it. In this intriguing compilation of standards—yes, musicians can record from the Great American Songbook (GAS) without disgracing themselves, no matter what anyone says—bop heads and originals, Vicki Burns acquits herself admirably. She is solid evidence that the singer makes the song, rather than the other way around.

For someone who took a hiatus from singing for five years, that is simply a commentary on how difficult the music business can be. One does not just deal with lousy pianos, unreliable sidemen, crooked contactors. temperamental conductors, and a frequently inattentive and ignorant audience. Everyone has an off night, which, inevitably defines them for some. All that not withstanding, make no mistake, Burns is a pretty fair vocalist. That does not necessarily mean that every tune here is a definitive version. Everyone has different yardsticks: for example, Marlene Ver Plank's recording of Bernice Petkere's "Close Your Eyes" might be a personal favorite. Similarly,