On first glance, after noting the instruments being played on this album, I anticipated that I was going to like it. After giving it a spin, my guess proved to be right. Betsy Braud of Thibodaux, bills herself as O.W.O. (which is short for, “Oh, Weird One”). She also bills herself as “The Jazz Nurse,” which is more apropos. She is an R.N. who also happens to play flute, piano and soprano sax—all with equal proficiency, I might add. From the opening number, titled “3 a.m.” which sounds a good bit like Roland Kirk’s “Serenade to a Cuckoo,” to the closing, Brazilian-sounding “Samba de Paulistas,” this is good, rollicking, straight-ahead jazz. Braud doesn’t merely excel on flute, she owns it. And her piano-playing is first-rate as well. Her backup musicians, Daniel Hotard on guitar, Matt Ashman on bass, Gary Roberts on drums and Michael Skinkus on percussion, complement her beautifully and at various times they get to shine with solos as well—especially Skinkus who bangs out a mean set of bongos. The biggest disappointment is that Braud doesn’t play enough soprano; after the first cut it’s not heard again. Hopefully, on her next CD—whenever that is—we’ll hear more of it. This is a very good album and a follow-up would be most eagerly awaited.