Vocalists — All Formats  

One of our favorite singers and one of our favorite composers – brought together in a dream of a vocal jazz album! We've always loved the tunes that Michel Legrand penned for films of the 60s and 70s – as they've got a depth, sincerity, and jazziness that goes beyond most of his contemporaries – but they've also never sounded better than in the hands of vocalist Karin Krog and arranger Palle Mikkelborg, who both really deliver a unique twist on the Legrand sound! Mikkelborg's arrangements for the set are extremely beautiful – sometimes using funky backings, sometimes softer strings – but always getting the right balance between emotion and grooviness that Legrand brought to his original recordings of the work. And guitarist Philip Catherine plays some nicely complicated lines that electrify the tunes with a weird, moody feel – often "singing" alongside Karin's deeply icy vocals in a really wonderful way. The tracks are all taken at slightly longer readings than you might expect, which makes for even more room for creative invention – and titles include "Watch What Happens", "Ask Yourself Why", "I Will Wait For You", "Once Upon A Summertime", and "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life".

A pair of gems from Johnny Mathis' years at Mercury Records – back to back on a single CD! First up is So Nice, an album that definitely lives up to its title – with a sound that extends strongly from the lushness of Mathis' early 60s recordings, but which also has a bit of a nod to the late 60s scene too – thanks to tunes from Marcos Valle, Michel Legrand, Burt Bacharach, and others! Glenn Osser handles most of the arrangements – in that shimmering strings style that always seemed to work best for Johnny during this period – a mode that never overshadows his vocals, and really lets that Mathis magic unfurl – on titles that include "The Music That Makes Me Dance", "I Will Wait For You", "So Nice", "Elusive Butterfly", "What Now My Love", and "What The World Needs Now Is Love". Johnny Mathis Sings is the final Johnny Mathis album for Mercury Records – and one of our favorites from the time! There's a nice little bounce to some of these cuts that really opens Johnny up – a style that's never too groovy, but which brings in some slight 60s syncopation to the rhythms – albeit in a gentle sort of way. Strings and horns shimmer over the top, next to Johnny's great vocals – which are still the center stage of the session – almost a bit more mature, and sounding wonderful on cuts that include "Strangers In The Night", "Who Can Say", "I Wish You Love", "The Second Time Around", "Sunny", "Saturday Sunshine", and "Eleanor Rigby".

A very groovy little record! Quire is a harmony group led by Christine Legrand – sister of Michel Legrand, and ex-member of similar groups The Swingle Singers and Les Double Six. The music on the set is very much like that of the latter – in that it's harmony vocal versions of famous jazz tunes, done in an instrument-less style that recalls the work of the Swingles. The sound is quite odd, but wonderful – handled with the dreamy delightful style we've always come to love in Christine's work. Titles include "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Blue Rondo A La Turk", "Django", "Misty", "Body & Soul", and "Waltz For Debby".

A wonderfully moody album from Abbey Lincoln – one that's a bit more laidback than some of her other efforts, but no less soulful! There's kind of a broken, jagged sound to the record – a late nite vibe that's blue and melancholy, and which gets some great support from the tenor sax of Archie Shepp – which often gets a chance to solo on most tracks! The rhythms are gentle, often a bit spare – and handled by Hilton Ruiz on piano, Jack Gregg on bass, and Freddie Waits on drums – and the set also features work from trumpeter Roy Burroughs. Tracks include three original compositions, "Painted Lady", "Throw It Away", and "Caged Bird", plus a sublime version of Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady". Also includes Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady", and Michel Legrand's "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life".

Features arrangements by Michel Legrand and Gene Page – both of whom bring in a groovy 70s sound to Sarah's vocals!

A very cool group that's as groovy as their name! The Jumping Jacques were a 60s French vocal group who took elements of other French groups – like The Swingle Singers or Les Double Six – and worked in a mode that was very mod, and very 60s! The tunes on the set sparkle with inventive vocal pyrotechnics – dipping bass parts, floating soprano lines, skipping scatting tenor and alto bits – all coming together in a lovely blend of male and female vocals, dancing lightly with all the charm of Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66. Most tracks are non-verbal – in that the vocals are working in more of a scatting instrumental mode, jazzily grooving on a set of original tunes by leader Jacques Hendrix. Very cool, and very much in the mode of mid 60s Michel Legrand soundtracks, The Gimmicks, and other bits of European grooviness! Titles include "Let Them Eat Cake", "Gossip & Chatter", "Someday We'll Know", "Somehow I Feel I Must Be Dreaming", "Offbeat Fugue", and "Love Me Now".