Carol Duboc

The golden road to mainstream acceptance brings a steady flow of female vocalists through the jazz side of town. Yet most of these young singers jump ship as soon as they find an audience for their work, abandoning what is often perceived as the narrow confines of jazz for the endlessly amendable realm of pop. Vocalist Carol Duboc obviously understands the opportunity at hand for her particular brand of contemporary jazz, having left Kansas City a few years ago to pursue an education -- and the hope of a recording career -- in Los Angeles. Duboc has a delicately alluring voice, and she has already proven to be quite a songwriter. Her sophomore release, Duboc, boasts nine original compositions that hold their own against two Burt Bacharach/Hal David covers. Most promisingly, her stunning interpretation of Wayne Shorter's "El Gaucho" suggests that she'll stay loyal to her current genre.