Light out of Darkness

Shirley Horn Light out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles) (Verve) With last year's lauded Here's to Life, veteran vocalist-pianist Shirley Horn reclaimed her mantle as a supreme jazz stylist with deep-seated subtlety. This time out, Horn steps to the side, paying homage to hero and influence Ray Charles. On this pleasantly personalized tribute, Horn swaps dry suavity for Ray's gospel wail on songs like ''Georgia on My Mind,'' and gives new seasoning to ''Bye Bye Love,'' while also handing the spotlight to sax great Gary Bartz. B -Josef Woodard