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An incredibly lovely later album from Peggy Lee -- her first album for Atlantic, and proof that she was still growing tremendously as an artist, well into the 70s! The record's title track was a tune written for Peggy by Paul McCartney, who also produced the number for the record -- and it's got a ...

Two groovy 60s albums from the lovely Joanie Sommers -- easily one of the most versatile singers of her generation! Positively The Most has Joanie working with some great arrangements from Marty Paich and Tommy Oliver -- both of whom help things stay lively, even when sweet -- and almost give the ...

Hard to imagine Anita Kerr being turned on -- especially given her school marm-ish look on the cover -- but the album's a pretty darn groovy set, and one that certainly shows Kerr picking up some of the best easy elements of the 60s! The Burt Kaempfert touch is heard here especially in the album's ...

2 more unusual moments from Nina Simone -- back to back on a single CD! Gifted & Black is a cool indie date from the early 70s, recorded in a moody studio mode with arrangements by Monk Higgins! There's a bit of strings in the background, which colors in the tunes with a melancholy feel -- a ...

A really wonderful take on Porgy & Bess and other Gershwin standards by Pearl Bailey -- there's just something about her naturally rich, bluesy, husky tone on these tunes that's simply wonderful! The backing is often well measured, but, occasionally a bigger sound and chorus vocals kick in. ...

A nice little live set from Mel Torme -- recorded for a special A&E TV show, but done with a really classic small combo format! Mel's a bit less overstated than on some of the previous Concord live dates -- swinging easily with trio backing from Mike Renzi on piano, John Letham on bass, and ...

From its booze-soaked title cut, to its haunting selection of lonely ballads like "Midnight Sun" and "Stranger Called The Blues", this is one of the most fantastic vocal jazz albums of all time -- and a record that we'd recommend instantly to anyone! June Christy has an ...

Excellent work from Betty Carter -- much more sophisticated than some of her 60s work! The tracks on the 2CD set were recorded for the Roulette label in the early 70s -- most of it live, and most of it featuring Betty in that hip trio format that she developed to fantastic heights during the ...

One of the few albums ever cut by singer Mildred Anderson -- a bluesy vocalist, but one with a strong touch of jazz as well! The format of this record really helps bring out the jazzier side of Mildred's music -- as it features small combo backing, with work from players that include Al Sears on ...

The second Prestige album from Al Smith -- a great little singer with a sublime blend of blues, jazz, and soul! Smith really came on strong at the start of his career, but then dropped out of sight pretty quickly after this one -- and we're really not sure why, given what a great little record it ...

It's always something nice when Etta Jones makes a record -- but this one is especially so, thanks to some intimate small group backing from players who include Oliver Nelson, Lem Winchester, Wally Richardson, and Richard Wyands! The style is relatively intimate throughout -- more late nite than ...

A lost gem from Etta's early 60s years on Prestige -- an album that has her singing with three different groups on the session, but coming out on top every time! The format's actually a good one -- not nearly as schizophrenic as you might think -- as Prestige pairs Etta with a range of some of ...

One of Sylvia Syms grooviest records ever -- a set that takes her past some of the cocktail vocals of earlier albums, thanks to use of some great soul jazz players in the backings! The style here is still intimate and often mellow -- done in that small club, late nite mode of Syms' 50s records -- ...

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 handful of ...

The complete recording of Tony Bennett and Bill Evans as a duo -- the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album from '75 and the '76 follow up Together Again -- back to back, plus a bonus CD of alternate takes! If you've ever doubted the real jazz sensibility of Tony Bennett, the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album ...

An incredible album that has Cleanhead moving way past his usual bag! Sure, he's normally known as an R&B vocalist and alto player, but here, in one of those great Riverside "Cannonball Adderley Presents" sessions, Vinson gets into a whole new bag on some cuts. He's playing with ...

A really fresh look at the music of Connie Francis -- a package that focuses on some of the hipper rockin tracks she cut over the years -- work that really gets past the overhashed pop tunes that most people remember! The backings on most numbers are quite groovy -- lots of rockin elements like ...

A cool classic from mid 50s Chicago -- a date that features singer Corky Shane working with him backings from the Johnnie Pate Quartet! Years before Pate rose to fame as a soul and soundtrack arranger, he was a key figure on the Chicago jazz scene -- and does a great job backing Shane's vocals ...

Shirley Horn caught right at the height of her great revival years in the 90s -- a time when she was arguably even more expressive and deeply soulful than before! Like most of Horn's best recordings of the time, this live date features a trio -- with Shirley herself on piano, Charles Ables on bass ...

Beautiful early work from vocalist Carol Sloane -- material recorded with a very groovy guitar-based group, in the years before her better-known sides on Columbia Records! The style here is quite intimate -- as Sloane's mostly singing in a small combo with guitar from either Chuck Wayne or Bucky ...

A real musical discovery from vocalist Beverly Kenney -- rare session material from 1954, recorded even before her first few albums on the Roost label! The sound here is very spare -- with Bev on vocals and Tony Tamburello on piano -- in a style that might be called "demo" during later ...

A pretty obscure record by Jackie Paris -- a light-voiced jazz singer who cut some key albums in the 50s! The set was very briefly issued by East West, a short-lived Atlantic Records subsidiary -- and features Paris singing to some great small group accompaniment from players that include Barry ...

A really unique singer from a time when male jazz singers were almost fading from view! David Allen has a sense of phrasing that's different than mainstream crooners -- an approach to tunes that's a bit more personal, especially on the sadder, mellower tunes, which he really does nicely. It's ...

The scene's definitely changed here for Perry Como -- moved down to Nashville, where he gets some great gentle backings from Anita Kerr! Anita both arranged the set, and contributes her own vocal quartet to the record -- that warm, wonderful harmonic ensemble who provided so many great sounds on ...

The only album we've ever seen from Mal Fitch -- a singer captured here in a rare trio setting from the early 60s, originally issued on a tiny indie label from Dallas! Mal's got a gently-voiced style that reminds us a lot of Matt Dennis at his best -- and like Dennis, he brings a simple, ...

An amazing session recorded by Bill Black -- a singer known best for his work with Gene Krupa in the 40s, but whose life took a sad turn in the 50s, and was barely heard from again! This album's a really unique session recorded by Bill in the early 50s -- one that features very spare accompaniment ...

Trend-setting vocal work from Oscar Brown Jr -- one of the hippest singers of his generation, and a vocalist who really took things to the next level in the 60s! Brown's got a sound that's partially influenced by the vocalese of Eddie Jefferson, Jon Hendricks, and other singers of the 50s -- but ...

Beautiful mid 60s Capitol albums from the great Nancy Wilson -- 1964's Gentle Is My Love and 1965's How Glad I Am --together in a single package and very well paired sets from a fertile creative period for Nancy! How Glad I Am is actually up first in the set, with some grander, more swinging ...

A great 70s set from vocalist Dave Frishberg -- recorded with a relaxed, easygoing style that's perfect for his vocals! Dave plays piano almost as much as he sings -- and on some tracks, instrumental modes dominate the first part of the tunes, then Frishberg's voice comes in and really increases ...

The first non-Blue Note album from Kurt Elling -- and a great fresh start for one of the greatest jazz singers working today! Kurt hasn't sounded this fluid or confident in years -- and while we expected that Concord Records might have put him in a slicker, smoother setting, the record's actually ...

Great early work from Carmen McRae -- small combo, jazzy, and a nicely different set than some of her other work of the 50s! Backings are by two groups -- one headed by accordionist Mat Mathews, the other by saxophonist Tony Scott -- both quartets, and both of them working with a nicely lean sense ...

One of the weirdest, wildest albums ever from Eddie Jefferson -- a real standout classic that shows him retooling his sound for the 70s! After years of writing lyrics to James Moody and Charlie Parker tunes, Eddie lays out some crazy lyrics for modern jazz standards like "Freedom Jazz ...

The title's an apt one, because Billie Poole sings here in a mode that's steeped in styles borrowed strongly from gospel and blues -- but delivered more in a jazz-based mode overall! The backing here is one aspect that makes the record especially strong -- a quartet with Kenny Burrell on guitar, ...

Amazing work from singer Dee Alexander -- a wonderfully soulful album of jazz vocals, and one that we'd rank right up there with our favorite records by Carmen Lundy or Dee Dee Bridgewater! Dee's a singer who's worked in Chicago for years, but we've honestly only begun to appreciate her talents of ...

A really great little album -- and light years from the straight torch tribute you might expect! Laika Fatien's working here with bold piano help from Robert Glasper -- a player whose soulful, flowing tones have made his Blue Note albums some real recent treasures in our collections -- and whose ...

One of the hippest albums ever from singer Joe Lee Wilson -- a righteous vocalist with a style we'd rank right up there with Leon Thomas or Andy Bey in the 70s! The album's got an easygoing vibe that's a nice change from some of Joe's other records -- a quality that's never too forced, and which ...

A lush album by Sarah Vaughan -- recorded in Paris in 1958, with orchestrations by Quincy Jones -- and large group backing that includes some nice tenor work by Zoot Sims! The session's one of Vaughan's most cohesive albums of the period, and although it's got "violins" in the title, it's ...

A great little album from Nina -- mostly recorded live at the Westbury Music Fair, with a hip mix of jazz, soul, and folk that's stretched out in a slightly informal setting that always brings out the best of Nina's vocals. Titles include "The Backlash Blues", "Please Read Me", ...

A beautifully righteous album of jazz vocals from Obie Jesse -- an excellent singer with a vibe that really takes us back to the 70s spiritual jazz generation! Jesse's got lots of help from that generation on this record -- a lineup that includes Henry Franklin on bass and Azar Lawrence on saxes -- ...

Beautiful work from an Italian singer -- a vocalist who works here in English throughout, with a breezy vibe that's like some of our favorite work of the 70s! The set's a Dejavu co-production, and as such, has a really classic sound -- deeply soulful instrumentation from a core combo, topped with ...

One of our favorite albums ever from Eddie Jefferson -- one of the last sessions he ever recorded as a leader, and a stone cooker through and through! The arrangements here are by Slide Hampton, who hits a really soulful groove for the set -- one that moves away from some of the more experimental ...

Always-great work from singer Lorez Alexandria -- still sounding wonderful, even at this late date! Her presentation's a bit earthier than before, but no less poised than on earlier sessions -- with the same sense of space and timing that's always made her one of our favorite jazz singers! And as ...

The debut album from Sandy Graham -- a singer who never broke big in the years to follow, but who really wins us over with this late 80s gem on Muse! The session's got the sort of simple, understated approach the label does best -- a really classic way of recording a singer, but one that's not ...

A beautiful later set from Lorez Alexandria -- produced by Houston Person, and put together with a sensitivity that really stands out! Although Lorez always sparkles on tunes that swing, she really rises to the occasion even more here on the ballads -- really gentle tunes that are taken in a ...

Two rare slices of work from Helen Merrill -- overlooked 60s sessions recorded with pianist/arranger Dick Katz! First up is the album The Feeling Is Mutual -- wonderfully moody session from Merrill -- and an obscure one too! The album was recorded in New York in 1965 -- with pianist Katz leading ...

An unusual album from Dee Dee Bridgewater -- a set that carries forward some of the soul styles she had at the start of the 80s, but one that also points the way towards her return to jazz in the 90s as well! The production is fairly electric -- lots of keyboards and guitars, and mostly beats in ...

Della Reese gets a Latin twist -- and result is one of her grooviest albums from the early days! Backings are arranged by OB Masingill, who does a good job of mixing RCA Latin modes with the soulful settings used on Della's straighter jazz records -- balancing things out nicely so that the rhythms ...

Personally pointed work from Carol Sloane -- a great small combo set from this oft-overlooked singer, and a great illustration of why she often stands out from the rest of her contemporaries! The tunes slide in with a gentle feel on most tracks -- one that almost makes you feel like Sloane's ...

Mose Allison's last album for Prestige Records -- before moving onto even bigger fame at Columbia and Atlantic during the 60s! Unlike Allison's later sets, this one is mostly instrumental -- but there are a few sweet vocal tracks that bring out the hip, rootsy lyrical modes that would make Mose a ...

Rare live work from singer Carole Simpson -- a vocalist best known for her album of the 50s, but one who sounds just as great here! There's an intimate format to the recordings that makes for a really classic sound -- backing by just bass and drums behind Carole's piano and vocals -- both of which ...