(Sari Kessler)

Vocalist Sari Kessler has a bright tone to her voice that draws you to what she’s singing. On Do Right , her debut recording, what she’s singing are nicely constructed renditions of well-known standards and less traveled fair, working with producer James Shipp and pianist Randy Porter to craft fresh arrangements of two tracks that set the tone for the entire production. This lead to the assemblage of a band of first-rate talents that are the backbone of the music on this effort. Kessler is joined by saxophone-great Houston Person, pianist John Di Martino, guitarist Ron Affif, bassist Steve Whipple, trumpeter/flugelhorn player Nadje Noordhuis, drummer Willard Dyson, with Shipp handling percussion. The menu includes tunes by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer, Duke Ellington and Irving Mills, Joseph McCoy and Bobby Hebb, and Kessler adding one of her own to the mix, all of which added to her wonderful vocal delivery, makes for a thoroughly entertaining work of song.