Don’t worry. Normal as Blueberry Pie – A Tribute to Doris Day is a reference to a line from “Wonderful Guy,” and an ironic acknowledgment of the fact Nellie McKay is about as kooky as they come. Thank goodness.

All too often, tributes to classic musicians consist of some sort of gimmicky imitation, and result in a shtick that is actually “as corny as Kansas in August.” Nellie McKay does not succumb to this common pratfall. In her tribute to Doris Day, McKay captures the spirit of what made Day so wonderful. Her clean vocals, relaxed phrasing and ebullience suit this project perfectly.

The album begins with “The Very Thought of You,” which features Nellie’s voice clearly in the forefront, backed by understated vibraphones and congas. The arrangement grows, but maintains its subtlety. The pace picks up with “Do Do Do” which swings a little more. The arrangement, while sparse, gives a nod to Doris Day’s frequent big band accompaniment, with contrapuntal horns and a stop time chorus with punctuation on the piano.

Able to both sound sweet and innocent, and sing with a bit of sass, McKay sings lyrics that often wax romantic (“I will wait for you / Meditating how sweet life will be when you come back to me”) while still maintaining the sincerity of performers from Day’s era.

NABP also features a McKay original, “If I Ever Had a Dream,” which fits in seamlessly. McKay’s arrangements (most of the album is arranged by her) are intricate, never over-done and always with an element of the unexpected. McKay’s tribute accomplishes what most tributes don’t — she epitomizes Doris Day’s essence, while never trying to be Doris Day. Nellie McKay’s delightful quirkiness remained intact, and in fact, made the album successful. So, if you are not yet a Doris Day or Nellie McKay fan, you’d best “get hep to that step” and “dig it.”