STACEY KENT, Sheraton City Centre, Feb. 2

On the ticket it said simply, "Stacey Kent," who happens to be a singer with a Grammy nomination for best jazz vocal album for "Breakfast on the Morning Train." She was in the Sheraton ballroom Monday night to be sure but a more accurate name for the show would have been, "The Reunion of a Band That Loves to Play Together," and it wouldn't be that much of a stretch to title it, "A Few Hundred People Enjoying Jazz Together."

Completely absent was Kent's ego and completely present was her delight at playing in Salt Lake. Officially she and husband and bandmate saxophonist Jim Tomlinson are on vacation for a few months, taking time off from a tour that spanned 27 countries around the globe. The only work during the extended recovery time is the Grammy awards coming up on Sunday and Monday night's Utah performance.

"It is pure joy to be here with this band," she said after the second number. "This is a magnificent band — we are with magnificent people, some of my favorite people on the planet."

The band (pianist Art Hirahara, bassist Gordy Johnson percussionist Phil Hey) that doesn't travel with Kent when she plays Europe, had not played together for the better part of a year but their delight in being together was obvious. Kent smiled broadly during nearly the entire performance and she told the audience repeatedly how happy she was with comments like, "I am having an exquisite time," with no trace of the usual touring banter but in one of the most intimate performances in memory, it was genuinely conversational.

When Tomlinson stepped forward to present and play the title track from the 1966 film, "Alfie," Kent didn't leave the stage but went and leaned on the piano, grinned her grin and became part of the audience including joining them in appreciative applause.

With a 2008-09 lineup in the Sheraton series that has featured some jazz virtuosos, Kent's group was a contrast that seemingly had little interest in showcasing its skills and instead concentrated on sharing emotion.

The French "Garden Of Winter" was slightly sad, simple and communicated beautifully despite not being in English. Kent called in her request in an evening full of songs asked for by the audience via the Internet. "I Wish I Could Go Traveling Again," "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," and "It Might as Well Be Spring," and "I've Grown Accustomed To Her (His) Face," and "Show Me," from "My Fair Lady,"

Kent's voice and style were almost as conversational as she was between songs.

After declaring herself glad to be among fellow mountain people, and "shooting the breeze about the mountains," she and pianist Hirahara performed a duet of Stevie Nicks' "Landslide" that was still, delicate and beautiful.

E-mail: lc@desnews.com