While not as well known as her successors Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, Maxine Sullivan (1911-87) was a first rate vocalist mostly associated with the Swing Era. As t his 3 disc, 75 song collection proves, it’s a mystery why she doesn’t get more accolades these days. She has an inherent sense of swing, great pitch and delivery and alluring voice. Her career had her with a plethora of orchestras, most notably one lead by the artsy and forward looking Claude Thornhill Orchestra, of which she had her biggest hit, the influential “Loch Lomond.” Along with Thornhill, Sullivan is impressively on a rich “Blue Skies” a sweet “Please Be Kind” and a thoughtful “Spring Is Here.”
Jazz fans will eat up her sessions with swingers Charlie Shavers/tp, Buster Bailey on tunes like “A Brown Bird Singing” and “Dark Eyes” with a young Buddy Rich hitting the drums on “Moments Like This.” Bobby Hackett’s cornet and Bud Freeman’s tenor go well with Sullivan on”Say It With A Kiss” with Sullivan saving best for her stint with John Kirby’s small “Orchestra” that include Shavers, Bailey, Ellingtonian Russell Procope/as, Billy Kyle/p O’Neil Spencer/dr and the leader on bass. Delightful ditties include “If I Had A Ribbon Bow,” “The Same Old Story,” You Man So Much To Me” and “The Heart You Stole From Me.” Her a brief stint with Benny Carter and His Orchestra gives us a wonderful take of “What A Diff’rence A Day Made.” And “ I’m The Caring Kind.” She shows what she can do in an intimate setting as she does wonders with Ellis Larkins’ trio on “ Skylark,” “Come Rain Or Come Shine” and “Summertime.” These rank up with Ella Fitzgerald’s work with the pianist.
If you’re a fan of jazz vocals, put this set alongside your Billy Holiday collection from the same era, and you’ll do yourself a favor.