Standup comedian, actress, and singer Lea DeLaria presents a less confrontational image here than she did on 1994´s Bulldyke in a China Shop, adopting the role of seductive, witty, confident, and heterosexual jazz chanteuse to perfection. Her voice ranges from little-girl-lost innocence to harder-edged tones, both suited to the opening "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd." With stylings from Billie Holiday to Judy Garland, "I´ve Got Your Number" heads straight for the heart of 1950s big-band balladry, improvised scat vocals proving DeLaria can swing with the best. "Cool" is anything but, the accompaniment understated, that voice dripping with the promise of sex. In "With Every Breath I Take," we get to imagine every late night smoky bar in every old Hollywood film we´ve ever seen--while it is pastiche, the characterization is startlingly evocative.