Be it a nightclub banger ("Who Do You Love?"), a radio hit ("Nobody's Supposed to Be Here") or a Broadway heroine's monologue (Aida's "Easy As Life"), Deborah Cox sings an anthem better than anyone. Perhaps it's that comfort with bombast that makes her take on '50s singer Dinah Washington's challenging catalog so lacking. Known for her phrasing and precise tone, Washington wrung meaning out of every note. But Cox's readings are skin-deep. She comes off like a well-meaning "American Idol" contestant on uptempo selections like the opening title track and takes the basic route on the ballads, some of which are in the American canon ("What a Difference a Day Makes," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes") and require virtuosity or inventiveness to even bother covering. Recorded with a live orchestra, the album sounds great, and Cox looks perfect behind a vintage standup mic. But in the end, the material showcases her limitations rather than her range. —Kerri Mason