May 1999

Doris Spears
The Duchess
Dreambox Media

By Sunsh Stein

Vocalist Doris Spears comes on like gangbusters with "Evil Gal Blues," then switches gears becoming an even-tempered chanteuse. Her smooth ballad singing hides the textures her opening tune exposes and makes you long for more blues. But she cranks it up again on "Stormy Weather," a short sprightly "The Song Is You," and a sultry "Day By Day," the latter accompanied by bassist Tyrone Brown with occasional tasty accents by Houston Person. Most of the other tracks were recorded in Oslo with Norwegian musicians who are well up to the task.