Forget the "Uh-huh"'s and cheesy backup singers. Pepsi has given Ray Charles a new image that unfortunately has re-written his past and given the New Generation no insight into one of the Kings of R&B. Shirley Horn, however, knows the real Ray Charles - the one that has influenced jazz and R&B vocalists, pianists, and musicians in general for decades. Horn has been well known since '61 when Miles Davis and the Village Vanguard brought her national attention. Last year she won Billboard's jazz album and artist of the year awards and a Grammy. In between, she has recorded 18 albums and received other Grammy nominations. This is her tribute to Charles as "repayment of a silent debt she owes him." She's chosen a good mix of his material, from standards to some lesser known tunes, spanning his career from '54-'77. Her backing band (bass, guitar, drums, sax) is strong, but Horn's majestic piano and vocal style stands at the forefront. She is a soulful power. This is the right one, baby. (Nick Lingg)
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