San Diego vocalist Sharon DuBois has released her second album, Here I Am, and will debut some songs on local TV station KUSI, at 9:00 am, Tuesday, August 30.

DeBois studied voice at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and claims influences from Joan Armatrading to Betty Carter. Joni Mitchell and Bruce Cockburn inspire her lyrically, while Bill Evans and Charles Mingus are her favorite composers.

Ms. DuBois is a ubiquitous presence on the San Diego jazz scene. If you've been to a local jazz performance, or follow any SD jazz musicians on FB, you've seen her.

She has been involved with some of the area's finest musicians, performing or recording with tenor saxophonist Daniel Jackson, alto legend Charles McPherson, and trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos.

Her highlight musical memory, though, stems from a gig she did with the MCC Big Band at the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.

Here I Am is an all-originals program that showcases the singer's smoky alto in a mostly funk-jazz setting.

What caught my ear were the moments (through the magic of multi-tracking), where she harmonizes with herself. Something about that technique maximizes the sultry effect.

Drummer John Staten produced the disc, and the core group includes Glen McKinney on guitar, Stephen McKinney on bass, and local phenomenon Joshua White on piano.

Guest appearances by Castellanos and Jackson greatly enhance the tracks on which they appear.

In its strongest moments, Here I Am floats along with a jazz-funk groove reminiscent of the 70s Crusaders, or, on some tracks, the sophisticated feel of 80s era Steely Dan. It takes a tight band to pull that off.

One piece, "I Miss You", made me think of the Joni Mitchell classic, "A Case Of You."

Order the disc or find out more about Sharon at sharondubois.com