A new style of singing was created when Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks and Annie Ross got together to put their own lyrics to classic jazz solos and inspire a wide wake of imitators such as Manhattan Transfer with a fresh approach called “vocalese”. Their hip harmonies and solo voicings took songs ranging from Basie to Miles to Silver and used the human voice in place of reeds and brass, and it caught on like wild fire. Annie Ross’s high pitched range, Dave Lambert’s rich baritone and Jon Hendrick’s ratchet mouth of a delivery made jazz vocals fun, fresh and funky. This two disc set covers their initial albums and a bit more, and it’s still as fresh sounding and exciting as when it first hit the airwaves when Ike was President.
The first 1955 session has Jon Hendricks team with the Dave Lambert singers to blend perfectly like Woody Herman’s reed section on “Four Brothers” before Annie Ross joins in in ’58 an album of Basie material (along with members of the orchestra like Freddie Green/g, Sonny Payne/dr and Eddie Jones/b) swing like it’s 12th and Vine on “It’s Sand, Man”, “Little Pony” and “Li’l Darlin,” while the trio becomes a multi-tracked big band for a wondrous read of “Everyday (I Have The Blues.” Together with Basie’s actual ’58 Orchestra with Joe Williams joining into the singing, the band gives exciting worded interpretations of solos by Lester Young, Herschel Evans and Buck Clayton on tunes such as “Tickle Toe,” “Swingin’ The Blues” and ” Goin’ To Chicago.” With Harry “Sweets” Edison on trumpet, The three get into gospel moods with “Sermonette” and a hard bop perfect “Moanin’” with Ross giving the definitive lyrics to Wardell Gray’s tenor solo on “Twisted.” Hendricks, meanwhile sets the standard for possibly the fasted non-auctioneer lyrics ever sung on the mind boggling “Cloudburst.” WHEW!
Voices have never blended better than on a Gil Evans Orchestra’d take of Miles Davis’ “Summertime” and the dots and dashes of “Bijou” are a bon mot of joy. These three had humor, moxie, and a ton of talent. This is a collection that has to be played over and over again to remind yourself that music can sound fresh and inspiring. Guaranteed to please.