It's Mrs. Garrett from TV's "The Facts Of Life" and "Different Strokes"! LP, Vinyl record album

Vocalist Jimmy Rushing first came to fame working with Count Basie in the 30s, but it wasn't until the 50s that he really got the chance to step out on his own and cut a number of great sessions in the studio! This set features one of Jimmy's finest moments of the 50s – material recorded for Vanguard Records in 1954 and 1955, respectively, and featuring Rushing in the company of great small group trad players like Buddy Tate, Pat Jenkins, Emmett Berry, Lawrence Brown, and Freddie Green. The format is laidback and simple on both records – a style that clearly hearkens back to the Kansas City swing of the 30s, but which is delivered here with a more stripped-down approach that lets us focus even more on Rushing's earthy vocal presentation. Titles include the original tracks "Good Morning Blues", "Take Me Back Baby", "Sent For You Yesterday", and "Goin To Chicago" – plus versions of "How Long", "See See Rider", "Evenin". CD

A great session that features Jimmy Rushing singing in the rootsy style of his early Kansas City recordings, with backing by a group that includes the legendary Pete Johson on piano, plus Rudy Powell on alto, Emmett Berry on trumpet, Buddy Tate on tenor, and Freddie Greene on guitar. Titles include "Evenin", "Rock n Roll", "Don't Cry, Baby", "Take Me Back, Baby", and "It's Hard To Laugh A Smile". LP, Vinyl record album

A great session that features Jimmy Rushing singing in the rootsy style of his early Kansas City recordings, with backing by a group that includes the legendary Pete Johson on piano, plus Rudy Powell on alto, Emmett Berry on trumpet, Buddy Tate on tenor, and Freddie Greene on guitar. Titles include "Evenin", "Rock n Roll", "Don't Cry, Baby", "Take Me Back, Baby", and "It's Hard To Laugh A Smile". LP, Vinyl record album

Notable sidemen include Pete Johnson, Freddie Green, and Buddy Tate. CD

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Accompanied by Emmett Berry, Aaron Bell, Vic Dickenson, Marlowe Morris, Bobby Henderson, and Bobby Donaldson. CD

Spare and beautiful work from pianist Ran Blake and vocalist Jeanne Lee – a record that follows a similar format to some of Blake's other sessions with singers, and which presents Lee's vocals in a powerfully unstripped mode! The set was recorded live in Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory of Music – with an echoey, "room" heavy style that really offsets the intimacy of the style. Blake's piano notes burst out and bounce around with stark qualities and strong sound – but Lee's vocals are close up in the mix, with less of the echo of the keys – in a breathy contrast that's really striking. A few tunes are original lyrics by Jeanne – including "Last Days/Hands", "Vanguard", and "I Like Your Style" – and other titles include "You Go To My Head", "You Stepped Out Of A Dream", "The Wind", "Where Are You", and "Corcovado". (Jazz, Vocalists) CD