**** Gloria Yousha, SugarLoaf (RonRio Records): "It's hard to imagine anything more infectious than a Brazilian beat - unless it's a Brazilian beat alongside Gloria Yousha's vocals.

"That's what's offered up on SugarLoaf, an album that Yousha, who lives in Winter Park, half recorded in the United States and half recorded in Brazil.

"Named for the famous mountain in Rio de Janeiro, the album title reflects Yousha's years-long interest in Brazilian music. She has performed frequently in Brazil, and the half of the album that was produced there was recorded in Sao Paulo.

"Besides its irresistible rhythms, Brazilian jazz music, at least much of it, is melody rich. The melody is never far from the forefront, which is good news for singers, like Yousha, who can deftly jazz things up without deserting melodies for minutes at a time.

"Standout cuts are "Brazil," "The Island" and bossa nova king Antonio Carlos Jobim's famous "Wave." "The Island" is the final cut, and it really swings - with pianist Nelson Ayres, also producer of the Brazilian segments, punctuating every turn of the tune.

"Yousha really latches on to the up tunes, riffing all over the place while selling the lyrics to boot. As much as she swings on the predominantly up-song album, she can also sell ballads, particularly the haunting "My Reverie," the old Larry Clinton song, based on a melody of Debussy's.

"A bonus is that three of the cuts - the title song, "Bright Night" and "Longing" - are co-written by Yousha.

"SugarLoaf is her second album. The first, Dreamer on the 18th Floor, is a collection of American standards. Its title referred to Yousha's longtime gig at the Citrus Club in downtown Orlando.

"She isn't performing regularly hereabouts now, but the new album makes you want to see and hear her in person - and hopefully before her too-far-off June 17 Central Florida Jazz Society concert."