While usually not put in the top tier of jazz vocalists, Lena Horne (1917-2010) shows that she could more than hold her own, as this two disc 48 song anthology states. She was a kind of Renaissance Lady, adept at acting, dancing and even active in Civil Rights activities along with her vocal prowess. Her beauty and classy look made the idea of her limited to the role of a jazz vocalist limiting, but she knew how to deliver the goods when she was being groomed for that role in her early years.
She had an earnestness to her voice, displayed on her big hit, her iconic 1941 rendition of “Stormy Weather”. She showed how to swing it with her backing of bands like Noble Sissle” and the hard hitting Charlie Barnet Orchestr with Good For Nothing Joe” and a seductive “You’re My Thrill”. She did some impressive work with Artie Shaw on a heartfelt “Don’t Take Your Love From me” and worked well with Teddy Wilson (who backed Billie Holiday during the same time on “Prisoner of Love” and “Out of Nowhere”
By the early and mid 40s, she was a big enough star to be the lead artist, and sounded impressive in small settings during “How Long Has This Been Going On” or teaming up with jazzers like Lucky Thompson/ts, Red Callender/b and Irving Ashby/g on “Little Girl Blue”. While known for a light and cheerful sound, Horne was able to get dark and down as well, with impressive takes of “My Man’s Gone Now” and a handful of spirituals like “Nobody Knows The Troubles I’ve Seen” and “Motherless Child”, while having a twinkle in her eye on “Hesitation Blues”.