BARBARA MORRISON SINGS AT DONTE’S

Any vocalist working without preparation--which was apparently the case with Barbara Morrison at the International Assn. of Jazz Appreciation’s monthly session Sunday at Donte’s--operates under a handicap. However, Morrison brought with her a few sheets of music, which enabled her to do more than simply go through the usual tired ritual of overworked standards.

Her opening song, for example, was a relatively little known but lyrically sophisticated and musically attractive piece called “What Do You See in Her,” for which pianist Art Hillery and his men provided a light bossa-nova beat.

Let us, in fact, praise Morrison for what she does not do. She doesn’t belt, she avoids cliches, she has no truck with pseudo-soul or any currently fashionable trend. She is quite simply a jazz-oriented singer who applies a pleasing sound, visual charm and a contagious enthusiasm to such songs as “I Was Doing All Right” (one of George Gershwin’s last compositions).

Toward the end of the set, in response to a request, she sang the blues. Clearly she has the roots and the feeling, but her choice of verses was a mishmash of lines from half a dozen sources that made no sense.This number left room for a spirited alto saxophone solo by Curtis Peagler, who also played in an opening instrumental set with Hillery, bassist Stan Gilbert and drummer Johnny Kirkwood.

The event was a fund-raiser for jazz appreciation classes in elementary and high schools.