Until emphysema forced her to retire from performing a few years prior to her death, vocalistCarmen McRae continued to excel on record, especially on live dates such as this 1981 set at the Ft. Lauderdale nightclub Bubba's. Accompanied by pianist Marshall Otwell, bassist Jim Andrea and drummer Mark Pulice, McRae's voice had deepened over the years, but she still wowed her audience as she interprets a mix of standards and a few current pop tunes. Highlights include energetic interpretations of "That Old Black Magic" and "If I Were a Bell," plus a dramatic treatment of "My Foolish Heart." The only real dud is her choice of Michael Franks' lame "Underneath the Apple Tree," though even McRae does more with it than its weak-voiced composer ever could.