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In 1999, Concord Jazz launched its Ballad Essentials series with this superb Carmen McRae collection, which spans 1980-1987. The influential singer recorded for Concord on four occasions; after teaming up with George Shearing for 1980's Two for the Road and joining forces with Cal Tjader on 1982's Heat Wave, McRae paid tribute to Nat "King" Cole on 1983's You're Lookin' at Me and visited Long Beach, CA, for 1987's excellent Fine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West. The only track that's out of place on this CD is "Fine and Mellow," which is a 12-bar blues instead of a ballad. True, McRae is captivating and inspired on this Billie Holiday classic, one of the highlights of Birdland West, but this is supposed to be a collection of ballads, not a blues collection. The rest of the CD, however, demonstrates just how stunning a ballad singer McRae could be. This is true whether she's joining Tjader's band on "Besame Mucho," saluting Cole on "You're Looking at Me," performing for the Birdland West audience on "These Foolish Things," or doing a vocals/piano duet with Shearing on "More Than You Know," "If I Should Lose You," and "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You." It's regrettable that Concord disrupted the CD's ambience by including a blues performance -- albeit an impressive one -- but even so, Ballad Essentials is enthusiastically recommended to anyone who cherishes intimate, smoky jazz singing.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
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Victor Young, Composer - Ned Washington, Author - Carmen McRae, MainArtist - George Shearing, MainArtist - Bing Crosby, Author
℗ 1980 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Carmen McRae, MainArtist - Jack Strachey, ComposerLyricist - Harry Link, ComposerLyricist - Holt Marvell, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1988 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Bob Russell, ComposerLyricist - Carmen McRae, MainArtist - Carl Sigman, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2003 Concord Records, Inc.
Victor Martins, ComposerLyricist - Carmen McRae, MainArtist - CARL E. JEFFERSON, Producer - IVAN LINS, ComposerLyricist - Cal Tjader, MainArtist - Regina Wernech, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1982 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Vincent Youmans, ComposerLyricist - Carmen McRae, MainArtist - Billy Rose, ComposerLyricist - Edward Eliscu, ComposerLyricist - George Shearing, MainArtist
℗ 1980 Concord Jazz, Inc.
L.E. Freeman, ComposerLyricist - Sammy Cahn, ComposerLyricist - Carmen McRae, MainArtist - SAUL CHAPLIN, ComposerLyricist - Mann Holiner, ComposerLyricist - Alberta Nichols, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1988 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Nick Phillips, Producer, Recording Producer - Carmen McRae, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Marshall Otwell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Troup, ComposerLyricist - John Collins, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Leftwich, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - George Horn, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Burk, Producer, Executive Producer - Glen Barros, Producer, Executive Producer
℗ 1984 Concord Jazz
Carmen McRae, MainArtist - George Shearing, MainArtist - Alan Jay Lerner, Composer - Burton Lane, Composer
℗ 1980 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Nick Phillips, Producer, Recording Producer - Carmen McRae, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - John Collins, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - John Leftwich, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - George Horn, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Burk, Producer, Executive Producer - Donna Hughes, ComposerLyricist - Glen Barros, Producer, Executive Producer
℗ 1984 Concord Jazz
Sunny Skylar, ComposerLyricist - Mark Levine, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Rob Fisher, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Nick Phillips, Producer, Recording Producer - Mundell Lowe, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Consuelo Velázquez, ComposerLyricist - Carmen McRae, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Hank Jones, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Marshall Otwell, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Gary Foster, Flute, Soprano Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Cal Tjader, Vibraphone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Glenn, Flute, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Poncho Sanchez, Percussion, Conga, AssociatedPerformer - Scott Hamilton, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Ramon Banda, Percussion, Timbales , AssociatedPerformer - Al Bent, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - John Burk, Producer, Executive Producer - Seth Presant, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dean Reilly, Double Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Glen Barros, Producer, Executive Producer - Vince Lateano, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Carl Jefferson, Producer, Recording Producer - Mike Heathman, Trombone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1999 Concord Jazz
Carmen McRae, MainArtist - Leo Robin, ComposerLyricist - Ralph Rainger, ComposerLyricist - George Shearing, MainArtist
℗ 1980 Concord Jazz, Inc.
Billie Holiday, ComposerLyricist - Carmen McRae, MainArtist
℗ 1988 Concord Records, Inc.
Album review
In 1999, Concord Jazz launched its Ballad Essentials series with this superb Carmen McRae collection, which spans 1980-1987. The influential singer recorded for Concord on four occasions; after teaming up with George Shearing for 1980's Two for the Road and joining forces with Cal Tjader on 1982's Heat Wave, McRae paid tribute to Nat "King" Cole on 1983's You're Lookin' at Me and visited Long Beach, CA, for 1987's excellent Fine and Mellow: Live at Birdland West. The only track that's out of place on this CD is "Fine and Mellow," which is a 12-bar blues instead of a ballad. True, McRae is captivating and inspired on this Billie Holiday classic, one of the highlights of Birdland West, but this is supposed to be a collection of ballads, not a blues collection. The rest of the CD, however, demonstrates just how stunning a ballad singer McRae could be. This is true whether she's joining Tjader's band on "Besame Mucho," saluting Cole on "You're Looking at Me," performing for the Birdland West audience on "These Foolish Things," or doing a vocals/piano duet with Shearing on "More Than You Know," "If I Should Lose You," and "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You." It's regrettable that Concord disrupted the CD's ambience by including a blues performance -- albeit an impressive one -- but even so, Ballad Essentials is enthusiastically recommended to anyone who cherishes intimate, smoky jazz singing.
© Alex Henderson /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:56:19
- Main artists: Carmen McRae
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Concord Jazz
- Genre: Jazz
© 1999 Concord Jazz This Compilation ℗ 1999 Concord Jazz
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