Retta Christie with David Evans and Dave Frishberg

Here’s an unlikely trio of players who somehow manage to get on the same page on this self-produced CD. Retta Christie is a homespun vocalist who began her musical career singing in a western swing band in Astoria, Ore., where she was born and grew up on a farm. Sometime later she hooked up with jazz cornetist/pianist Jim Goodwin and found their mix of musical styles a perfect fit. They worked and traveled the world until his passing last year, but not before he’d introduced her to pianist Dave Frishberg, who—in company with Portland reedman David Evans—recorded Vol. 1 two years ago. In addition to being a witty songwriter, Frishberg is also a superb accompanist who, upon his arrival in NYC in 1957, found work with a variety of jazz musicians and has since gone on to record a raft of well-regarded solo albums. Evans’ playing is right on the mark and the two instrumentals rank high on this disc’s charms. Christie has a “breezy sense of swing” and bravely tackles such landmark Billie Holiday numbers as “Foolin’ Myself” and “A Sailboat in the Moonlight” with admirable results. Her winsome charm is especially evident on “I Only Want a Buddy Not a Sweetheart.”