Be a Santa Warner ***

Despite her jazz instincts, DeLaria’s in-your-face vocal style is an acquired taste. And, as she belts her way through a seasonal selection amid the considerable jazz talents of Martin Shaw (trumpet), Julian Siegel (saxophones), Anthony Kerr (vibes), producer Janette Mason (piano/Hammond) and (alas, only on three tracks) Geoff Gascoyne (bass), it’s hard not to feel she’s the weakest link. Wayward intonation is one thing, but DeLaria confronts a song rather than interprets it. Good-humoured and swinging it is, subtle it’s not. Be a Santa has its moments. Above a hard-driving rhythm section, Mason, Kerr and, to a lesser extent, Gascoyne and Shaw get a chance to shine. The repertoire is the usual suspects, with an uptempo White Christmas a nice, jazzy touch. DeLaria is like a throwback to the old Broadway musical belter Ethel Merman, only more hip.