BEFORE DIANA KRALL THERE WAS…Shirley Horn: Live at the 4 Queens

During an interview I did with producer Quincy Jones, I asked him who his favorite artist was to record. Without hesitation, he said “Shirley Horn” describing her as “pure joy.” This album of Ms. Horn has her singing and playing piano with her teammates Charles Ables/b and Steve Williams/dr in Las Vegas back in 1988. What it displays is not only her musical charms in both voice and digits, but how much of an influence she had to have been to Diana Krall. Horn’s style of swing and presentation is an obvious major tributary to the present day jazz diva.

Horn’s sense of presentation is impeccable here at the Four Queens Hotel. She shows her impressive and subtle chops on a bouncy “Hi-Fly,” luscious “Isn’t It Romantic” and smoky “Blues for Big Scotia.” She de-samba’s Tom Jobim’s “Meditation” to make it more bluesy and oozes longing on the role change during “The Boy From Ipanema.” Her timing, vocal inflections and spacing is immaculate on a longing “You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To” and “Lover Man”  and holds court on “Something Happens to Me.” This album bubbles over with  class and style.

There is an accompanying booklet with interviews with Sheila Jordan, producer Jean-Philippe Allard and others that put Ms. Horn’s career in perspective. This is a lady that needs to be re-introduced to the world, and Resonance has delivered another gem from its Mother Lode.

Resonance Records

www.resonancerecords.org

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