*** Paul Broadnax

HERE'S TO JOE: PAUL BROADNAX SINGS A TRIBUTE TO JOE WILLIAMS

(Brownstone)

Few singers have the temerity, experience, and equipment to pay solid tribute to the dean of jazz vocalists. Paul Broadnax -- a singer of considerable finesse and elegance, a solid pianist, and one of New England's only recently unveiled secrets -- certainly has the equipment (a resonant yet honeyed bass/baritone), the good taste, and the patina of experience. He has chosen to showcase the tender side of Williams, with a set comprising far more ballads (seven, including "A Little at a Time" as a sultry samba, the gorgeous "Imagination," "Darn That Dream," and "Here's to My Lady") than blues (just "Hurry On Down to My House" and "The Comeback").

Overall, the set excels in suavity but is short on grit. That's Broadnax's call, and indeed he does justice to many neglected gems over Williams's distinguished career. Moreover, this album becomes a tribute to the living Joe Williams -- singing beautifully today -- not the Joe Williams of our memories.

-- Fred Bouchard

(Paul Broadnax plays a CD-release party at Scullers this Tuesday, November 12.)