January/February 2000

Dakota Staton
A Packet of Love Letters
HighNote Records

By Patricia Myers

Dakota Staton has been heard for nearly four decades on concert stages and albums. Her no-frills, listen-to-the-lyrics delivery re-examines standards such as "More Than You Know," "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Remember." She pours her heart into Billie Holiday's "Trav'lin' Light," gets funky for "You'd Better Love Me," and resuscitates the pop hit "What Now My Love?" to its original drama. Tenor saxophonist Houston Person adds warmth and color to the charts, complemented by the rhythm section of guitarist Melvin Spears, pianist Aaron Graves, bassist Nat Reeves and drummer Percy Smith. Dakota's back, and the vocal world is richer because of her.