Jazz Singer Mary Stallings with Pianist David Udolf

The sold out performance of cool jazz singer Mary Stallings last night at The 222 was a relaxing an enjoyable evening with Mary Stallings interpretative innovations on pleasant love songs with her rich tenor voice.  Her voice not as sturdy in the mezzo soprano range, sounded most vibrant between countertenor and contralto-alto reach.   Singing since the 1950s performing early in her career with Dizzy Gillespie, Billy Eckstein and the Count Basie Orchestra.  In the 80s and 90s Stallings' recordings on Concord Jazz gained national jazz audiences with Gene Harris's quartet.  In 2007 sang with Wyton Marsalis' Jazz Orchestra at Lincoln Center for "The Birth of Cool."  Stallings appeared in an elegant, slender silk dress with multiple bracelets and rings that she informed us were all gifts.  Her sleek bob, high cheekbones and disarming smile exuded elegance and warmth.  Performing mostly easy listening bossanova melodies to the accompaniment of pianist David Udolf.  UDolf has played with legendary R&B artist Bo Diddfley.  Udoff's accompaniment paired nicely with Stallings vocals without overpowering her lyrical interpretations.  Udoff was allotted ample time on each song for a solo that enhancing each selection's ambience.  The program consisted mostly of little known love songs except for a bluesy Billy Holidays selection, "Me, Myself, and I"  and the final upbeat number, a Duke Ellington favorite, "It Don't Mean A Thing:"  Doo-ah, doo-ah, doo-ah!   Ms. Stallings alluring voice and innovative tempo made for a delightful evening of jazz.