In Cheek to Cheek, Lady Gaga’s recent jazz collaboration with Tony Bennett, Gaga proves that she doesn’t need meat dresses, seashell bikinis, or Venus wigs to support her raw talent. Complicated jazz melodies allow Gaga to showcase her dynamic range—it’s a far cry from “My p-p-poker face my p-poker face.” But Cheek to Cheek offers few musical surprises other than Gaga’s impressive vocal performance. Bennett and Gaga merely compiled their versions of jazz standards such as “Anything Goes” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

Gaga shines with a solo on the piano ballad, “Lush Life.” And while she is not known for subtlety, Gaga does not overshadow Bennett. Despite being almost 60 years apart in age, the two vocalists showcase their natural chemistry.

During recording, the pair used a live jazz band and authentic vocals instead of Gaga’s typical electronic pop style. Songwriter and composer Marion Evans, who arranged “The Lady is a Tramp” for Gaga and Bennett, played a significant role in the tracks that required big bands or orchestras.

Cheek to Cheek might remind audiences that there’s more to Gaga than stage antics and eight-minute music videos, but whether it successfully brings jazz back into the mainstream remains to be seen.

With 15 songs, the deluxe version of Cheek to Cheek gets somewhat tiresome after the first few songs. If you’re a jazz fan, Gaga and Bennett seldom make any significant changes to a familiar set of standards. If jazz isn’t your thing, maybe you should stick to ARTPOP. But for the casual listener, Cheek to Cheek is a welcome reprieve from the latest pop and hip hop. Bennett brings the class, Gaga adds some sass, and the end result is unexpectedly refreshing.