One of the most original of the bebopping female vocalists, Sheila Jordan blew the world away with her 1963 Portrait of Sheila Jordan and has subsequently created an impressive, if ignored, catalogue. This eleven song collection is vastly important, as it has Jordan (who was then working with John Knapp/p, Ziggy Willman/dr, Steve Swallow-Gene Perlman/b) in her earliest pre-album stage.
It’s uncertain who the supporting cast is, but the bottom line is that Jordan is in full blossom here, bluesy and confident on “Comes Love”, heartfelt and vulnerable on “Glad To By Unhappy,” digging into subtones for a gorgeous “When The World Was Youg” and harrowing for “Don’t Explain”. Of course, she was a bebopper, and she scats wondrously on “It Don’t Mean A Thing” and bounces with delight on “I’ll Take Romance” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”, joyfully cooing during a nifty “Sleeping Bee”. This one’s worth tracking down. Oh Boy!!