Lionel Hampton nicknamed her "Betty Bebop" way back when--and the soul of bebop was alive and kickin" in Betty Carter when this 1993 live set was recorded at London"s Royal Festival Hall. It"s a kind of dream date, with Carter accompanied by pianist Gerri Allen, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Jack DeJohnnette. So what I want to say is: "Wow." I guess that"s not a very articulate critical observation, but as Carter (a sizzling scat singer) knows, sometimes words just aren"t enough to say what needs to be expressed. Some jazz singers (like Billie Holiday or Shirley Horn) don"t stray too far from the melody in their improvisations, but Carter takes off and flies like the great bebop sax/horn players. The arrangements on these 10 songs sometimes deliberately downplay the melodies--like a mysteriously beautiful "Lover Man" that Billie Holiday would never recognize. Slowed almost to a standstill and built around a piano figure that echoes Herbie Hancock"s "Maiden Voyage," the words are familiar, but the tune is almost undetectable. Carter"s up to something else altogether, and makes spine- tingling music. --Jim Emerson