There are singers that play piano and pianists who sing. Then there are those rare performers who not only do both, but integrate them into a personalized style. Ellyn Rucker can sing ballads with distinction, scat at a blistering pace, and play rollicking or empathetic piano solos. All these elements make her concert recording Live In New Orleans a completely delightful package, with surprising diversity in her song selections. Seldom will you hear someone able to handle both “Take The Coltrane” and “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be” and do each with flair.

Track listing: 1. “Beautiful Love”, 2. “Israel”, 3. “Take the Coltrane”, 4. “Wonder Why”, 5. “Things Ain’t What They Used To Be”, 6. “Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most”, 7. “Up Jumped Spring”, 8. “Fungi Mamma”

Personnel: Ellyn Rucker, piano and vocals; Mark Singer, bass; Jill Fredrickson, drums