Natalie Cole sings in 'top' form at Caesars Palace

Natalie Cole's show in the Caesars Palace Circus Maximus through Sunday could be subtitled, "A Lady and her Music." When the voice, the talent and the charisma are all present, trick lighting and excessive sound are superfluous. The lighting was just right and the sound never excessive.

The opening was subdued with Cole at the microphone, backed by 10 horns, her rhythm section, which included two keyboards, and three incredibly good backup singers, all under the direction of Bob Krogstad. The song: "I Write The Songs (And This Is My Song For You)."

"Lovers" was uptempo with some heavy scat singing a la the late Ella Fitzgerald. Cole likes to scat (verbalizing without words, swinging syllables) a lot and could do with a little bit less. She did it well, but while Fitzgerald was credited, the Sarah Vaughan influence was just as pronounced, a compliment. "I'm Beginning to See the Light" highlighted the horns, completing a strong first segment.

"Stairway to the Stars" was her tribute to Fitzgerald. This was followed by the late Dinah Washington's signature song, "What A Difference," sung at Washington's tempo, but sans acknowledgment. Two of "Dad's favorite songs" -- "This Morning It Was Summer" and the Charlie Chaplin classic, "Smile" -- followed. The former is a beautifully written ballad, a show highlight.

Next came the early Natalie Cole with "This Will Be an Everlasting Love," "Mr. Melody," a change of pace with "Miss You Like Crazy" and then all out again with "Love On My Mind" and a "Sophisticated Lady," which was not Duke Ellington but a rap romp that featured Terrel Loyd Shon, well-received by the audience but with a negative minority report here.

Cole plugged a recent album release and sang the title song, "Snowfall on the Sahara," followed by Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" and Patsy Cline's version of "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming," which was really Patty Page's first mega-hit on Mercury. "Say You Love Me" was hot and heavy, really an earth-shaker with audience response in kind.

It was time for "Unforgettable," the electronic duet with her late dad, Nat "King" Cole, accompanying her on a screen. This is the song and album that garnered seven Grammys in 1992 including Song of the Year and Album of the Year.

The closer was "Reverend Lee," the story of a preacher who fought temptation. There were bows and acknowledgments, but the audience demanded Cole do one more.

Rather than sing "Pink Cadillac," the intended encore, Cole asked for a stool and sat quietly and sang a charming but obscure Christmas song written by her record producer for "Unforgettable," David Foster, and his wife, Linda, entitled, "A Grown-up's Christmas List."

Ninety minutes had elapsed and the goodly assemblage was reluctant to depart. Reserve tickets early this weekend or you could miss Natalie Cole at the top of her considerable form.

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