Melba Moore: A Night in St. Lucia

Performing live in St. Lucia in a 2001 concert recorded before an intimate audience, R&B chanteuse Melba Moore ignores her string of hits from the '80s ("Livin' for Your Love," "Love's Comin' at Ya," "Love the One I'm With (A Lot of Love)," "A Little Bit More," etc.), focusing instead on popular jazz standards ("Blue Skies," "Don't Mean a Thing," "Stormy Weather," "A Night in Tunisia"), a medley of '60s hits ("My Guy," "Too Many Fish in the Sea," and "Don't Mess With Bill"), a selection of tunes from the Broadway musicals Hair (Moore was the first black lead performer to replace a white lead performer, Diane Keaton) and Purlie, and her signature anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing." Backed by a simple piano/bass/drums trio, Moore's vocal range and strength remains impressive, and while diehard fans may be disappointed by the lack of top ten hits here, popular music aficionados will surely appreciate this 14-song set presented in Dolby Digital stereo. As an extra, the disc includes a 10-minute interview with Moore in which she talks about her musical upbringing and touches on the notorious divorce with husband/manager Charles Huggins, her being blackballed in the music industry, and her current life as a mother and born-again Christian. Recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)