An appealing singer who does not improvise much, Vanessa Rubin recorded several fine albums for Novus. She studied classical music but switched to jazz early on. Rubin sang with and managed the Blackshaw Brothers (an organ quartet from Cleveland). After working with several groups locally (and recording with the Cleveland Jazz All-Stars), in 1982 Rubin moved to New York. She worked with Pharoah Sanders, Frank Foster's Loud Minority, and the big bands of Mercer Ellington and Lionel Hampton, and studied with Barry Harris in addition to teaching in the N.Y.C. public school system. In 1992 she signed with Novus and her releases for the label are quite enjoyable, including a fine tribute to Carmen McRae. ~ Scott Yanow