When you think of the first tier of female jazz singers, what comes to your mind? The triad of Holiday, Fitzgerald and Vaughan, of course. I’ve never understood why Carmen McRae always seemed like the fifth wheel ; she may not have had the range of Ella or Sassy, but her timing and phrasing was simply astounding. Her jazz feel as the opposite of Fitzgerald, as behind the beat as Ella’s was on or in front of it. If you have nothing by this lady, here’s a great place to start. Two 1960-61 sessions (and a tad extra) with her delving into the songbooks of Billie Holiday and Dave Brubeck.
The former has McRae supported by a stellar team of Mundel Lowe/g, Bob Cranshaw/b, Norman Simmons/p, Walter Perkins/dr, Nat Adderley/cn and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis/ts. The Holiday material is perfectly suited for McRae, and she delivers a stunning take of “Stange Fruit” with Lowe and joyfully swinging reading of “Them There Eyes.” She sounds convincing on “My Man” while “The Christmas Song” may not fit in too well. Her Brubeck session has her with Brubeck and his rhythm team, with Desmond bringing in his alto for an enjoyable version of “Take Five.” Classics like “Strange Meadowlark” and “It’s a Raggedy Waltz” and interposed with more obscure but still relavant “My One Bad Habit” and “Summer Song.” An All Star band that includes Louis Armstrong closes the disc with “Good Reviews,” predicting my write-up here. A singer and disc worth rediscovering.
Fresh Sound Records