If you want a unique singing style that still hits home, check out Korean vocalist Hyeonseon Baek. He is backed by a bopping team of Kevin Hays/p, Linda May Han Oh/b, Jochen Rueckert/dr and guest Lucas Pino/ts for a mix of originals and jazz standards. His voice makes you first think of Carmen McRae-husky in an almost mezzo soprano/alto range, and quite flexible as on a surprisingly slow and richly undulating read with Hays on “Caravan” . He sticks with Ellingtonia throughout much of the album, conversant on “Lush Life” while Charles Mingus’ “Duke Ellington’s Sound Of Love” has him relaxing with Oh and Hays. He’s languid with Oh on Horace Silver’s “Peace” and lingers with Pino on “My Temptation”. He bops in both a Korean and English read of his own “West 4th St” and loose and exotic on “Black Narcissus”. I’ve got to see this guy in action!