Recorded live to tape in New Jersey and New Orleans, Secret Canon Vol. 1 finds fiercely independent artist Dayna Kurtz exploring the world of obscure jazz, R&B, and blues. Released concurrently with another fan-financed gem (American Standard, a collection of originals and well-selected covers with rockabilly pedigrees), Canon further establishes Kurtz's deep affections for classic American styles. Her take on Floyd Dixon's "Do I Love You" seems as natural to her as her lone original here, the excellent powerhouse "Not the Only Fool in Town." Kurtz admits to repeatedly listening to Sam Cooke's Night Beat album while assembling this record, and she and her coproducer/drummer Randy Crafton pay special attention to that album's economy and space. So whether it's Nat King Cole's "Come in out of the Rain" and "If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow" or the doo-wop novelty "Don't F**k Around with Love," Kurtz relies on a few well-recorded instruments and her own voice to power the tracks. No extra fuss here: just great performances that capture a band making music.