A rare Japanese session from vocalist Helen Merrill – one of a few key 60s recordings she cut on the Tokyo scene, after initial fame in the US! The album features a great small group arranged by drummer Takeshi Inomata, played by a combo that includes alto, baritone, and trumpet – all used in a cool and laidback mode that resonates nicely with Merrill's more familiar 50s sides on Mercury – but which also stretches out more, too – not as "cool", and with a sense of inflection that's mighty nice. Helen's in great form vocally – often singing in that almost-effortless mode that we love in her classic work – and titles include "It Never Entered My Mind", "Bewitched", "You Do Something To Me", "Teach Me Tonight", "Good Morning Heartache", and "My Favorite Things". CD

A rare Japanese-only live date from Anita O'Day – material recorded for television with a groove that's quite similar to some of her best late work for Verve! Most of the tracks here are arranged by Buddy Bregman – who handled some of Anita's best studio sessions – and backings are by Japanese bandleaders Toshiyuki Miyama and Takeshi Inomata – both of whom bring just the right of hard-swinging energy to the date to match O'Day's great vocals. Titles include a great version of "Four Brothers", plus "Stella By Starlight", "Tea For Two", "Night & Day", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", "Boogie Blues", "Travelin Light", "Bewitched", "Avalon", and "Let's Fall In Love". LP, Vinyl record album