“A VERY SPECIAL CONCERT.” Nancy Wilson. Sony...

“A VERY SPECIAL CONCERT.” Nancy Wilson. Sony 96W 50076. This is actually a continuation of the Corea concert listed above, with the identical introduction of the four musicians. But then Nancy Wilson takes over. A very pretty lady, until she twists her mouth into unsightly distortions, she was a fine jazz singer many years ago--until she launched a policy of protesting too much and showing her jazz credentials so wildly that everything falls apart.

What were idiosyncrasies for Carmen McRae and Dinah Washington become mannerisms when Wilson uses them. Overacting, losing track of the pitch, she offers a near-travesty of jazz singing. Listening to her attempting Monk’s “Round Midnight” is a painful experience. The tape is of some value because there is fine solo work by Corea and, at times, Joe Henderson. For them, a star or two; for the vocalist, zilch.