Ernestine Anderson, A Song for You

Tenor saxophonist Houston Person once said that he wanted his combo with singer Etta Jones (now deceased) to be like the big bands of the Swing Era.

The music should be danceable, and the presentation should include a featured vocalist and a strong soloist-leader.

Singer Ernestine Anderson's "A Song for You" (HighNote) is a perfect continuation of that model, with Person in a prominent sideman role.

Anderson, 79 when she recorded this album, has distilled a lifetime of jazz, blues and R&B into a style that's economical yet full of swing, soulful nuances and a master storyteller's timing. In fact, her phrasing, along with pianist Lafayette Harris Jr.'s accompaniment, would make a fine study in propriety and taste for aspiring jazz musicians. Bassist Chip Jackson and drummer Willie Jones III are also excellent here.