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 ... read moreCD
One of the greatest albums ever from Lorez Alexandria – an ultra-hip singer who recorded for Impulse and King, but who sounds especially wonderful on this rare date for Chess Records! The album's got a groove that definitely lives up to its title – a jazzy, bouncy sort of rhythm that's ... read moreCD
A classic album from one of our favorite jazz singers ever – a set that really set a whole new standard for a generation! Even at this early stage, Lorez Alexandria was an amazingly accomplished vocalist – as you'll hear on this excellent selection of tunes from the Lester Young ... read moreCD
Perhaps one of the straightest albums that Lorez ever cut – but still pretty darn great! She's got a unique voice that's capable of being fairly smooth and mainstream, yet still manages to hit these wonderful soulful passages that transform any kind of material and makes it her own. That's ... read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Alive —
Call It Jazz ... CD Redwood/Celeste (Japan), 1981. Used ...
$9.9914.99
The second album by this excellent all-female San Francisco jazz combo – a live date that's even more cooking than their debut! As before, there's a sweetly breezy style to the record – that hip SF sound of the 70s – with echoes of Braziliana and soul amidst the group's jazzier ... read moreCD
(2000 Japanese pressing – includes obi!)
Ernestine Allen —
Let It Roll ... CD Tru Sound, Early 60s. Used ...
Just Sold Out!
Tasty R&B material, recorded on Prestige's short-lived Tru-Sound subsidiary. Ernestine had some earlier fame under the name Anisteen Allen, and this record's got a similar sound to her late 40s work – with lots of smoky vocals, touched by a warm jazz sensibility that gives the material a ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreCD
An intimate trio date from the late, great Mose Allison – recorded in 2006 but not released until 2015. Tracks include "City Home", "Lucky So & So", "Numbers On Paper", "My Backyard", "One Of These Days", and "You Can Count On ... read moreCD
Like many other 70s reissues in the Prestige/Milestone/fantasy family, this set compiles 2 early albums by Mose. Unlike a lot of his later material, this set's mostly instrumental, though he does get in some vocals on about a third of the tracks. The album features some great work by Allison's ... read moreCD
Beautiful later work from Mose Allison – still completely charming and totally on top of his game! The set includes the fantastic title track – plus "Gettin There", "Tai Chi Life", "What's Your Movie", "I'm Alive", and "Top Forty". ... read moreCD
A great cooker from the glory days of Ernestine Anderson on Concord Records – a time when the singer was rediscovered, and revamped in a bit of a bluesy mode – reaching a wide new audience at the time! Her vocals really shine at this point in her career, as she lets loose with a bit ... read moreCD
With Trummy Young on trombone, Dave McRae on clarinet, Billy Kyle on piano, George Barnes on guitar, Mort Herbert on bass, Barrett Deems on drums, and Nickie Tagg on organ; with choir directed by Sy Oliver. (Jazz, Vocalists)CD
Gordon Jenkins did the arrangements, and the record features Louis' version of "Blueberry Hill" – plus the tracks "Chlo-e", "Jeannine", "Spooks!", "Trees", and "It's All In The Game". Includes four bonus tracks. (Jazz, Vocalists)CD
A really amazing set of recordings – vocal sessions done by Fred Astaire in the later season of his career – recorded in the studio with intimate backing by a Verve group that includes Oscar Peterson, Barney Kessel, Charlie Shavers, and Flip Phillips! The material features lovely new ... read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Fred Astaire —
Jazz Time ... CD Proper (UK), Early 1950s. Used 2 CDs ...
$6.99
One of Chet Baker's most classic albums of the 50s – a record that features both vocals and strong trumpet solos – all from a time when Baker was one of the hottest things going in jazz! The album's different from records from previous years, in that it moves Baker from LA to New York ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreCD
Chet Baker on trumpet & vocals, Harold Danko on piano, John Burr on bass and Ben Riley on drums. (Jazz, Vocalists)CD
Patricia Barber —
Cafe Blue ... CD Premonition, 1994. Used ...
$4.99
Patricia Barber on piano and vocals, John McLean on guitars, Michael Arnopol on bass, and Mark Walker on drums and percussion. Titles include "What A Shame", "Mourning Grace", "Ode To Billie Joe", "Mahna De Carnaval", "Inch Worm", "The Thrill ... read moreCD
An obscure vocal jazz gem from the LA scene of the 50s – recorded for Atlantic, but done in a style that's a fair bit like the best work for Bethlehem or Mode at the time! Betty Bennett sings here with backings from Shorty Rogers on one side, and Andre Previn on the other – often in a ... read moreCD
(2007 Japanese pressing in a nice glossy LP style cover – in great shape with obi!)
Tony's classic – with the big hit "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" – and other titles that include "Rules Of The Road", "Candy Kisses", "Marry Young", "The Best Is Yet To Come", "Smike", and "Tender Is The Night". CD
(Includes slipcase. Promotional sticker on slipcase barcode.)
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 ... read moreCD
A fantastic comeback moment for the great Andy Bey – a singer who did incredible work in the 60s and 70s – then disappeared from the recording scene for awhile! The set's a compelling batch of jazz vocal tracks that show Andy reinventing himself for a whole new generation of jazz ... read moreCD
A pair of later jazzy vocal LP gems by Teresa Brewer, both backed by jazz greats – Songs Of Bessie Smith with Count Basie and Thad Jones, and It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing with Duke Ellington – both released by Flying Dutchman in 1973! Teresa's popularity peaked a ... read moreCD
A beautiful love letter from Dee Dee Bridgewater to her adopted home of Paris – sung in French, and with a feel that's quite different than much of her recent work! The style here wonderfully mixes together bits of jazz and more traditional chanson – in a style that recalls some of the ... read moreCD
One of Dee Dee Bridgewater's greatest jazz albums, and a very important record in her career – as it marked a shift back to straight jazz vocals, after years of working in a more R&B inflected mode. The album's recorded in Paris, where Dee Dee's spent an awful lot of time over the years, ... read moreCD
A modern classic from Dee Dee Bridgewater – one of her hippest albums of the later years, thanks to a great choice of material, and some really wonderful execution! The album's a beautiful set of straight jazz vocal readings of some of Horace Silver's best compositions, and it also features ... read moreCD
A different James Brown album – but a nice one! James doesn't sing soul, so much as jazz – in front of large backings by Louis Bellson, with arrangements by Oliver Nelson that are in his best 60s soul mode – and which give the album a very very groovy feel overall! The record's ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreCD
One of Oscar Brown's great ones, recorded live at the Cellar Door in Washington before an enthusiastic crowd of hipsters! The record's a beautiful mix of soul, jazz, and folk – in the same Chicago tradition that spawned Terry Callier (although Brown's style has a bit more of a "show" ... read moreCD
One of the coolest collaborations of Dave Brubeck's years at Columbia Records – and one of the greatest jazz sessions from vocalist Jimmy Rushing too! On paper, the modernist Brubeck and Kansas City roots singer Rushing would seem to be a very unlikely pair – but by this time in his ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreCD
Laverne Butler fronts a piano trio led by Bruce Barth! Tracks include "This Bitter Earth", "Hit The Road Jack", "Late Sunday Afternoon", "I'm A Fool To Want You" and "Willow Weep For Me". CD
(Digipak has some edge wear.)
Ann Hampton Callaway —
Slow ... CD Shanachie, 2004. Used ...
$2.99
Some of the greatest work ever recorded by this incredible Chicago soul singer! The set brings together 17 tracks from Terry's years at the Chess/Cadet label – his greatest time in the studio, when he was mixing his unique style of folksy soul with some of the more complicated backings of ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreCD
A brilliant live set by Betty Carter – originally issued on her own Bet-Car label in 1980, and a perfect summation of the underground soul that was bubbling through her work in the 70s! The Betty you hear here is way different than the Betty of earlier years – freer, more soulful, ... read moreCD
A landmark album from vocalist Betty Carter – not her first time in the recording studio, but maybe one of the first full length sets to really communicate all the genius she was bringing to the field of jazz vocals in the postwar years! The record is one of Carter's more sophisticated ... read moreCD
(Out of print. Sleeve has some wear including some on the spine and is priced accordingly.)
Sublime stuff! Sure, it's easy to sit back and say that you don't really dig Ray Charles albums that mix together country music and soul, and that you prefer his hard raw raunchy Atlantic recordings from the earlier days. But let's be honest, Ray really made his biggest splash with this stuff ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreCD
(Includes slipcase and book – all in excellent shape!)
Fantastic stuff, and proof that Rosemary Clooney was always one heck of a great singer – with strengths in jazz that you didn't always hear in her pop work! As you'd guess from the cover, Duke Ellington's leading the group on the album – and most of the tracks here are older Ellington ... read moreCD
Freddy Cole on vocals and piano, Eddie Edwards on bass, and Ed Zad on drums – performing titles that include "Where Did Everyone Go?", "The Best Man", "Funny (Not Much)", "Home Fried Potatoes", and "Nat Cole Medley" – a 10 minute tribute ... read moreCD
18 great tracks that show Nat's strong ability to handle material as a romantic and ballad singer – not in kind of a weepy mode, but in a sophisticated strong-willed style that was a perfect blend of measured emotion and simmering intensity. Titles include "Love Is The Thing", ... read moreCD
CD includes 28 tracks, with music by the early King Cole Trio, plus some nice solo material too! Titles that include "Nature Boy", "Too Young", "Send For Me", "Mona Lisa", "On The Street Where You Live", "Almost Like Being In Love", "S ... read moreCD
An unforgettable album from Natalie Cole – a record that came at a time when her R&B career was faltering slightly, and a set that not only helped Natalie reach a new level of sophistication in her music – but also find a huge new audience too! If the title sounds familiar, it's ... (Soul, Vocalists)read moreCD
Gwen Matthews on vocals, Denis Colin on bass clarinet, Didier Petit on cello, and Pablo Cueco on percussion. (Jazz, Vocalists)CD
Steve & Iqua Colson —
Hope For Love ... CD Silver Sphinx, 2003. Used ...
$0.995.99
Beautiful work from Adegoke Steve Colson – a warmly grooving set cut with vocalist Iqua Colson – possibly one of Steve's straightest records ever, but one of his most soulful, too! Iqua's got a fluid vocal approach that's mighty nice – and the Colson combo swings in a mix of ... (Jazz, Vocalists)read moreCD
(Out of print original Silver Sphinx pressing. Booklet has a bit of marker.)
The first album in a legendary run of vocal jazz classics on Atlantic Records – and a set that really helped Chris Connor move to a new level of expression in her music! The sound here is much richer than Connor's previous recordings for Bethlehem – and the small combo jazz backings ... read moreCD
A real standout in Chris Connor's legendary run for Atlantic Records – and a unique double-length set that was almost her answer to some of the 2LP Verve songbook sessions from Ella Fitzgerald! Like those, this album's based upon the work of a single composer – and features key ... read moreCD
Although most of Chris Connor's best recordings for Atlantic have always been darn tough to find, and rarely reissued, this excellent 2-fer makes these classic albums of icy vocals available once again! Chris sings in her best cool voice, with backing by a number of different groups made up of ... read moreCD
(1999 Collectables pressing, barcode has a cutout hole.)
Chris Connor —
Chris Craft ... CD Atlantic (Japan), 1958. Used ...
$8.99
Chris' Craft is a great one here – beautifully simple and straightforward jazz vocals, served up at a level that few other singers can match! The album's one of our favorites from Connor's classic years with Atlantic – as it's got a mellow, moody approach that's filled with the darker ... read moreCD
A lovely side by Chris Connor for Atlantic, recorded not too long after her stint at Bethlehem – where she'd perfected an icy cool style of singing that's still to be matched to this day! The album features larger arrangements by Richard Wess – but still has a light jazzy feel, ... read moreCD
A very cool album from Noel Coward – a talent you're probably more familiar with as a playwright, but who also happens to be quite the entertainer! This album is one of two great sets that Coward recorded live in the US in the mid 50s, and they really show him opening up a lot from earlier ... read moreCD
Pre 4 Seasons work from Bob Crewe – with 27 tracks including "All The Things You Are", "Kicks", "Silhouettes", "Bye Bye Blackbird", "Let's Get Serious", "Crazy In The Head", and "Water Boy". (Rock, Vocalists)CD
Swinging vocals from the great Vic Damone – an excellent singer of the show/lounge circuit, represented here by two excellent albums from his Capitol years! On The Street Where You Live features Vic working with Pete King arrangements, in a set of mostly-show tunes – redone by Damone's ... read moreCD
A near-lost album from Sammy's years at Reprise – and an album that's got that nice bouncey style that the label was using with Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra in the 60s! A lot of the thanks goes to producer Sonny Burke, who inflects Sammy's vocals with a punched-up set of rhythms that makes ... read moreCD
(2004 Collectors' Choice pressing – still sealed!)
One of a handful of totally wonderful albums cut by Blossom Dearie in London – a gem of a set, and one that really takes off from the style of her earlier American albums on Verve, thanks to some hip Brit arrangements from Reg Guest! Blossom embraces all sorts of sounds here that she hadn't ... read moreCD