Samara Joy is a rare jazz singer – the sort who manages to have ties to the past, but also really bring so much of her own spirit to the music – not subtle inflections on the tunes, but instead this really personal style that has her absorbing older tracks and turning them into ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Joyce —
Cool ... CD Far Out (UK), 2015. New Copy ...
$7.9916.99
Plenty cool sounds from Joyce – a lady who's always been the definition of the world used in the title – thanks to her totally unique, totally wonderful style! The album's one of a number of recent gems that have Joyce really going back to basics – hitting that soaring blend of ... (Brazil, Vocalists)read moreCD
Joyce —
Natureza ... LP Far Out (UK), 1977. New Copy Gatefold ...
$32.9936.99
A record that could have been the biggest breakthrough in the career of the legendary Joyce – yet the set was never issued at the time! The late 70s session has Joyce recording in New York, under the guidance of studio maestro Claus Ogerman – who has a wonderful way of elevating the ... (Brazil, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(In the booklet cover, with light wear, some smudges, and lightly bent at the back panel.)
Kimiko Kasai —
Thanks Dear ... LP Sony (Japan), 1974. Near Mint- ...
$29.99
A great set of straight jazz vocals from Kimiko Kasai – a singer who could sometimes work in soul-based modes, but who steps out here in a wonderful batch of classic-styled jazz tunes! The album's directed by Oliver Nelson, but the backing is by a small combo that features Joe Sample on ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes insert – a nice copy!)
Kimiko Kasai with Herbie Hancock —
Butterfly ... LP Columbia/Be With (UK), 1979. New Copy (reissue)...
$36.9939.99
A legendary pairing of talents – as Japanese jazz singer Kimiko Kasai works alongside Herbie Hancock – in a setting that's very much on the soul side of the spectrum! Both Herbie and Kimiko started out with a straighter jazz sound in their early years – but by the end of the 70s, ... (Japanese, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Greetje Kauffeld —
Heaven's Open ... CD Sonorama (Germany), 1969/1973/1975/1986. Used ...
$9.99
Beautiful ballads from Dutch singer Greetje Kauffeld – a host of rare recordings from the 60s, 70s, and 80s – all pulled together in one nicely unified set! Kauffeld sings in English throughout, with a lush style that's very much on par with the most mature American vocalists of the ... read moreCD
We're always big fans of Bev Kelly's work, but this album is way hipper than the usual vocal album of its type from the time – thanks to a sweet little lineup that features Pony Poindexter on alto sax and Flip Nunez on piano! The presence of Poindexter's horn is always a treat, on the ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(70s Japanese Victor pressing – SMJ-6042. Cover has a cut corner, some ring and edge wear, stained spots at the top edge, and is bumped at the top right corner.)
The first Riverside album by Bev Kelly – an obscure ice-blond singer from the late 50s, with a sound that's much more in keeping with some of the vocalists on the Bethlehem label, than the few singers who cut sides for Riverside. Bev's got the great fortune to be working here with Jimmy ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(70s stereo Japanese Victor pressing – SMJ 6052 – with insert. Cover has a cut corner, some ring and edge wear, light stained spots, yellowed price sticker remnants, and a small patch of paper stuck to the back.)
One of the best-remembered jazz albums from singer Bev Kelly – partly for the record's great use of guitar by Johnny Smith, but also for the great vocals from Bev herself! The album's one of a few that really set a new standard for small combo jazz in the 50s – different than the ... read moreCD
A rare Decca album lead by the smoky vocals of Beverly Kenney – a really unique late 50s/early 60s jazz girl who once worked for the Dorsey brothers, the Count Basie Orchestra and others, and only ever cut a handful of albums under her own name! Sings for Playboys is an intimate, sultry ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s Spanish reissue with bonus tracks. Cover has some ringwear and is bent at the top left corner.)
Early work by singer Beverly Kenny – a great 50s jazz vocalist who never got her due, but who managed to make some pretty fine records at the time! This album's one of them, and features backings from Ralph Burns – not as dark and moody as some of his other work of the 50s, and in a ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s Spanish Fresh Sound pressing. Cover has some yellowing from age in back.)
A rich effort from Morgana King – the first of her rare Reprise LPs – and a record that shows incredible range and an ability to bring a heavy, textural mood to just about any kind of tune! Torrie Zito's arrangements on It's A Quiet Thing are lush, but, well, quietly so – and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
A beautifully understated album from Morgana King – one that has her working with familiar arranger Torrie Zito, but in a style that's a bit more laidback than before! There's a bit of strings on the album, but they really just shade in the sound from the back – leaving plenty of space ... read moreCD
A completely hip little record from Morgana King – one that takes her amazing voice, and sets it amidst some expansive arrangements that push past jazz to include some trippier 70s styles! The whole session's got a nice mix of the mellow and baroque – with a subtle funky undercurrent ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has a cutout notch.)
Arrangements by Torrie Zito, and titles include "All Blues", "Easy Living", "Prelude To A Kiss", "Fascinating Rhythm", "Bluesette", and "A Taste Of Honey". CD
(Out of print.)
Morgana King —
Wild Is Love ... CD Reprise/Collectors Choice, 1966. Used ...
$11.99
A playfully swinging little set from Morgana King – given the groovy, latenight lounge Reprise sound by producer Jimmy Bowen! This second album for Reprise is a much more extroverted than the quite strong It's A Quiet Thing LP from a year before – with arranger Torrie Zito grooving out ... read moreCD
Seminal work from vocalist Teddi King – quite possibly her best material ever, recorded during a memorable run for RCA in the mid 50s! King first came to fame as more of a small combo jazz singer, but during her time at RCA, she tried out a variety of different modes – some of the ... read moreCD
Teddi King —
Now In Vogue ... CD Storyville/Muzak (Japan), 1955. Used ...
$6.99
One of a number of great small group sessions done by singer Teddi King for the Storyville label – nicely relaxed, with backing from a septet that features Billy Taylor on piano, Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, Nick Travis on trumpet, and Gene Quill on alto! The Storyville approach really brings ... read moreCD
A very laidback little album from Teddi King – a set that mostly features Teddi singing with only piano accompaniment from Dave McKenna, and which also features a few solo tracks by Dave as well! Teddi's voice has changed a bit since the 50s – but in a good way, with a bit more human ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
The rarest of three albums that King Pleasure ever recorded – and pretty darn hard to find, too. The set was recorded after King's earlier sides for the Prestige and HiFi jazz labels, but it's in a very similar style, with some wonderful vocalese-ing done in Pleasure's landmark style. He's ... read moreCD
A record that revolutionized the concept of jazz vocals in the 50s – thanks to famous performances by Annie Ross and King Pleasure! The tracks on the LP include Ross' early interpretations of Wardell Gray's classics "Twisted" and "Farmer's Market", and the King Pleasure ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Blue label trident pressing. Cover has a bump on the top seam, but is nice overall!)
A record that's sometimes overlooked in the career of the legendary Eartha Kitt – a set that came out on MGM in the early 60s, after Kitt's initial rise to fame on RCA, and before taking off for a long stretch overseas! The set hints at the sound of that era a bit – and arrangements by ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Stereo pressing. Cover has ring wear, light edge wear, spot of marker on the back.)
Henri Rene and his orchestra accompany Eartha on this record named after her 1956 autobiography. There is an tiny excerpt from her book on the back cover but the songs don't seem to necessarily reflect her life story. It's a nice collection of some relatively tame tunes in that throaty Earth Kitt ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono black label pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear and aging, half split top seam, and a 4 inch split in the bottom seam.)
A relatively mellow vocal outing from Ithamara Koorax – a voice that was introduced to us from her appearances on some groovy Brazilian dancefloor tunes, including some of those from Dom Um Romao's albums! The style here is quite different – very laidback, and in the ballad mode you'd ... read moreCD
Great work by a great singer – the far under-recorded Irene Kral, a lovely lady who really bridges a number of different camps in the vocal jazz world! At one level, Irene's got the coolness of a Christy or Connor, but at another, she's got a more open, swinging, and soulful style – ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Gentle Rain, and a very gentle sound from Irene Kral – a wonderfully intimate album that has the vocalist working with only the piano of Alan Broadbent for accompaniment! Kral's always a pretty expressive singer, but she sounds especially so here – really getting a lot of space to ... read moreCD
A beautiful return to form for singer Karin Krog – one of our favorite jazz vocalists ever! The album's got Karin singing to arrangements and backing from pianist Steve Kuhn, a wonderful talent for a set like this, and a songwriter who's contributed some really wonderful tunes to the ... read moreCD
One of the few albums to ever feature the pre-Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross talents of Dave Lambert on vocals – caught here in duets with Buddy Stewart, in a sweet vocalese mode! Backing is by a hip lineup that includes Charlie Ventura on tenor, Red Rodney on trumpet, Tony Aless on piano, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
The Lambert, Hendricks, & Ross tradition lives on – in a smoking live set that features Indian singer Yolanda Bavan joining the group in place of recently-departed Ross! Bavan's ability to groove and improvise is every bit as great as that of Annie Ross – and she fits in nicely ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono Dynagroove pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear, and is bent and chewed a bit at the corners of the spine.)
One of the first albums ever by this legendary jazz vocal group! LHR do the incredible – and create a set of vocal renditions of standards by the Basie band, putting jazzy lyrics in to replace the instrumental solos, but keeping the same vibe as the original tracks. The sound and approach ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono pressing with deep groove. Label on Side 1 has a small peeled spot at the spindle hole. Cover has a wide center split in the bottom seam, some gloss separation at the bottom left corner, and a round sticker in back.)
One of the first albums ever by this legendary jazz vocal group! LHR do the incredible – and create a set of vocal renditions of standards by the Basie band, putting jazzy lyrics in to replace the instrumental solos, but keeping the same vibe as the original tracks. The sound and approach ... read moreCD
(Out of print)
Lambert, Hendricks & Ross —
Swingers! ... LP World Pacific, 1958. Near Mint- ...
$11.9919.99
One of the rarest albums ever recorded by the hiply swinging vocal trio of Jon Hendricks, Dave Lambert, and Annie Ross – a live session from 1958, with backing by a group that includes Zoot Sims, Russ Freeman, and Jim Hall. The feel here is really wonderful – a lot less hokey than on ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(80s Japanese pressing including obi and insert – K18P 9266.)
Classic 50s work from vocalist Abbe Lane – and a record that's made all the better by some great arrangements from Tito Puente! Abbe's getting past the sexy tricks of other records here – and singing in a dusky tone that works perfect with Tito's tight, choppy, and highly percussive ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Gorgeous Japanese pressing, with insert and printed inner sleeve.)
A pretty weird one! Vicky Lane's always been one of the more dramatic singers from RCA's 50s gal catalog – and she's working here with LA jazzer Pete Condoli, who conducts a small jazz combo with lots of added percussion! The style's halfway between straight vocals and hi-fi type numbers ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label Living Stereo pressing with deep groove. Cover has some wear and aging, some light marks from price sticker removal, and a small sticker oscuring some marker in front.)
Ellis Larkins & Tony Middleton —
Swingin For Hamp ... LP Concord, 1979. Near Mint- ...
$2.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout hole and a small trace of a price sticker.)
Here's a nice one – the only album we've ever seen by vocalist Dee Lawson, an icy yet soulful singer with a style that's clearly forged in the June Christy mode! The set features some nice small combo backing that really matches the late night mood of the tunes – more jazz-based ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Multi-color bar pressing with deep groove! Vinyl is in great shape, but has a short click on one track – the rest is nice.)
A 60s LP that compiles Julia's earlier sides for Capitol – a mixture of jump blues, swing, and R&B, recorded with players that include Red Norvo, Benny Carter, Vic Dickenson, and Baby Lovett – all killer work from the early years of the labgel! Titles include "Last Call For ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label pressing. Cover has some light wear, but this is a great copy overall.)
Fantastic stuff – and a key example of the penetration of psychoanalysis in the US during the postwar years! The tunes here are all vocal parodies of familiar themes from Freud – sung by Katie Lee in a way that's a bit jazz, but possibly a bit folksy too – very playful at times, ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing with deep groove. Cover has a small split on the bottom right corner and light surface wear.)
An overlooked gem from singer Mamie Lee – a vocalist who inhabits the same space between jazz and soul as Nancy Wilson! The album's got a very groovy feel overall – thanks to small combo backing from The Swingmen, a piano trio who backed up Mamie in live appearances, and who really fit ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Black label stereo pressing. Cover has light wear and some spotty aging.)
Peggy Lee's best known as a jazz singer, but this very cool collection emphasizes her work in more pop-based fields of the postwar years – great grooving tracks when Lee was touching on R&B, early rock, and other more upbeat styles! The match of Bear Family presentation and these well-cho ... read moreCD
Two albums from Peggy Lee on one CD. First up is I Like Men! – an obscure album of "guy" songs from the end of the 50s! There's a playful feel to the music that fits Lee's vocals very well – as do the bouncy arrangements from Jack Marshall, who turns out to be one of the ... read moreCD
2 slices of Peggy Lee – one classic pop, one adult contemporary! I'm A Woman was a landmark album in Peggy's career – one that featured some wonderful crossover hits that broke her into a whole new audience in the 60s – and which really helped cement Peggy's relationship with ... read moreCD
A classic set of tracks from Peggy – featuring the sublime hit "Is That All There Is?", produced by Lieber & Stoller, and arranged and conducted by Randy Newman. Other arrangements are by the likes of Mike Melvoin, Mundell Lowe, George Tipton, and Bobby Bryant – all of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
Peggy's sweet as sugar, but working here with a heck of a lot of spice – thanks to arranger Benny Carter, who brings in a wonderfully jazzy feel to the set! The album's one of Peggy's best from her comeback years at Capitol – and a prime example of the syncopated, slinking mode of ... read moreCD
Peggy's sweet as sugar, but working here with a heck of a lot of spice – thanks to arranger Benny Carter, who brings in a wonderfully jazzy feel to the set! The album's one of Peggy's best from her comeback years at Capitol – and a prime example of the syncopated, slinking mode of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Rainbow label stereo pressing. Cover has some fading at the edges and a small split in the bottom seam. Label has a sticker spot.)
Includes nine songs from the original 10 inch LP such as "Be Prepared", "The Old Dope Peddler", "The Irish Ballad", and "My Home Town" – plus nineteen more tracks by Lehrer! CD
Carolyn Leonhart on vocals – accompanied by Wayne Escoffery on saxophone, Toru Dodo on piano, Hans Glawischnig on bass, and Jason Brown and Carl Allen on drums. CD
(Original German pressing. Cover has light ringwear, some yellowing from age and some spotty blemishes, bent corners, and some gloss separation around the edges in back.)
Groundbreaking work from Ketty Lester – a really important singer who equally skirted the worlds of jazz and soul! Ketty's got a great sophisti-soul style on the set – working with arrangements by Lincoln Mayorga, and coming off with a sound that would clearly go onto inspire Nancy ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original mono pressing. Cover has splitting on all seams, edge wear, some surface wear & aging.)
Lettermen —
Best 20 ... LP Capitol (Japan), 1960s. Near Mint- Gatefold ...
$11.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(70s red vinyl pressing in a padded booklet cover, with obi. Obi is held in place with clear tape at the top of the spine.)
The cover of this one might make the album one of the campiest records on Verve – but the session's a surprisingly great one, with a straighter vocal approach than you'd guess! Monica's got a really sweet vocal style – a bit sexy, and certainly adult – arranged here with some ... read moreCD
One of the strangest things about Abbey Lincoln's career is the fact that, despite her hip affiliations with the left end of the jazz spectrum, she's actually been slotted into a fair number of straighter projects, not only in music, but in film as well. This album's a perfect example of that ... read moreCD
Great later work from Abbey Lincoln – music from that time when she's found just the right setting for the magnificent instrument that was her maturing voice! Abbey always had one of the most distinct styles of any jazz singer around – but in later years, the slight rasp that came in ... read moreCD
A fantastic pairing of the vocals of Abbey Lincoln and the tenor sax of Stan Getz – one that's captured here for the very first time on record, at a point that's just a few months shy of Stan's too-early death! Both players had really grown a lot during the 80s – and the match here is ... read moreCD
Plenty of body, and even more soul – a great little groove on the record at points, in that slinky, vampy sort of mode that Julie London picked up in the 60s! The album's got Julie taking on a fair bit of R&B and bluesy numbers – still singing in her more jazz-based style, but ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a spot of sticker residue, faint ring wear, and partially split seams.)
Julie London —
By Myself ... LP Liberty, Mid 60s. Very Good+ ...
$9.99
Mature, mellow, and totally wonderful – clear proof that Julie London was still making great music well into the 60s! The album's got a simple, unassuming charm – very much in the late nite mode you'd guess from the title, with spare backings from Don Bagley that often have a key ... read moreCD
First up is one of Julie London's strongest overall albums – a great session that features small group backings with a warm and intimate feel! There's less of the languid sadness of some of Julie's other records, and more of the dreamy floating style of singers like Chris Connor or June ... read moreCD
A record that has Julie London already hitting that great "Nice Girls Don't Stay For Breakfast" mode of later years – the adult, informed approach that showed that the teasing nude of the 50s had turned into a pleasing woman of the 60s – capable of frank presentation of ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono pressing. Cover has light wear and discoloration from age.)
Hard to imagine that Julie London would ever have to ask anyone to make love to her – at least not when she looks as sexy as this on the cover! The album's a key early classic for Liberty – still very fragile, personal, and up-close enough to make you think you might just be able to ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono turquoise label pressing with deep groove. Cover has splitting on all seams, surface wear & aging, small sticker.)
Julie London's shortened her trademark tresses for the cover of this album – but as the title will tell, she's very much in the best sultry territory of her earlier years! This time around, Don Bagley's turned in some near-perfect arrangements that really bring back the London sound of the ... read moreCD
Julie London's shortened her trademark tresses for the cover of this album – but as the title will tell, she's very much in the best sultry territory of her earlier years! This time around, Don Bagley's turned in some near-perfect arrangements that really bring back the London sound of the ... read moreCD
Claudine Longet —
Colours ... CD A&M/Elemental (Spain), 1968. New Copy ...
$13.99
The colors are rich, but gentle too – like a palette of pastels, all sung by the lovely Claudine Longet! The album's got a slightly more mature feel than some of Longet's first for A&M – great Nick DeCaro arrangements that show some of the deeper elements creeping into pop at the ... read moreCD
(Limited edition!)
Jon Lucien —
I Am Now ... LP RCA, 1970. Near Mint- ...
$29.99
The beginning of an amazing run on RCA for vocalist Jon Lucien – working here in a sublime blend of styles that's way beyond simple soul or standard jazz! Lucien's got a sound that's unlike anything we can think of – apart from the countless imitators who've tried for his style in ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing – in great shape! Cover has some light wear, and ringwear that includes a few worn spots on the front.)
(Mono teal & silver label pressing with deep groove. Cover has some ring and edge wear, yellowing from age, tiny split in the bottom seam, and small tears in the back paste-on.)
One of the stranger records on the Paul Winley label – mostly known for its important funk and hip hop recordings! The set features older work by Gloria Lynne, reissued in this 70s package, "by popular demand", as the cover states. Tracks are in the standard Lynne mode – and ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mid 70s issue. Cover has some ring and edge wear.)
A landmark album of the 60s – and a record that forever put Gloria Lynne on the map! The album's got a sense of poise and class that was almost a genre into itself – one that crossed Gloria over big with the title hit version of "I Wish You Love", but which was also supported ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Mono blue label pressing. Cover has light wear and aging.)
Harold Mabern with Gregory Porter & Kurt Elling —
Afro Blue ... CD Smoke Sessions, 2015. New Copy ...
$13.9917.99
The great Harold Mabern kicks it hard with a key core group – then finds a way to open up with some surprise guest artists as well – including singers Gregory Porter, Kurt Elling, Jane Monheit, and Norah Jones! The core of the album features Mabern's piano rocketing out with rhythm ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreCD
Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton —
Rainbow ... LP Impulse, 1970. Sealed Gatefold ...
$28.99
Pure wonderfulness from Dave Mackay & Vicky Hamilton – one of the hippest duos ever to record a jazz record! The duo are a bit like Jackie & Roy at their best – in that Dave plays piano (including a bit of Fender Rhodes) and sings duet vocals with Vicky Hamilton in a sweetly ... read moreLP, Vinyl record album
(Sealed original pressing! Cover has a cutout hole.)
(Cover has a small ding on the front, and the bottom corner of the rear paste-on is folded under.)
Gary Marks —
Gathering ... CD JCOA/Kindred Spirits (Netherlands), 1973. New Copy ...
$7.9918.99
A beautiful blend of folksy vocals and light jazz touches – all in a laidback and blue-tinged mode that's not unlike some of the best late 60s Tim Buckley work for Elektra! Like Tim, Gary Marks has a real respect for jazz in the mix – and he allows plenty of space here for vibes from ... read moreCD