I enjoyed writing CD reviews for KCOU. As jazz director, I reviewed mostly jazz albums for the station. The review sheet attached to each CD always included three sections: Review, Opinion, and Best Tracks. I always liked this format, as it gave the reviewer the chance to say all that needed to be said about an album and gave the DJs a good overview of what to expect. Naturally, it was easier to write an entirely positive review than a more critical one. Here, for example, is a review I wrote in May 1993:
Artist: Vanessa Rubin
Title: Pastiche
Label: Novus
Review: Rubin claims a range of vocal influences, including Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, and Lambert, Hendricks & Ross. All styles appear at various times and are skillfully rendered and appealing. A talented, all-acoustic team of rhythm musicians adds considerably to Rubin's already strong vocals.
Opinion: One of the more appealing vocal releases to enter the jazz format. Hear this one out.
Best Tracks: 1, 6 (good bare bones bass line), 7 (cool brass arrangement), 9 (tasty Jimmy Smith-style rhythm arrangement; cool organ line from Aaron Graves), 11
