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Out of This World
Out of This World
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists
 
Two Leading ladies of Soul, featured on one album.

     
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CD Details

All Artists:
Title: Out of This World
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Charly Budget
Release Date: 12/12/1995
Album Type: Import
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists
Styles: Cool Jazz, Oldies, Vocal Pop, Traditional Vocal Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 082333191525

Synopsis

Product Description
Two Leading ladies of Soul, featured on one album.
 

CD Reviews

A great sampler of the work of two stars at the midpoint in
Mary Whipple | New England | 05/04/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)

"(4 stars for packaging, 5 stars for the music) Though the cover photo and title may imply that these stars are singing together, this CD consists of ten songs by Chris Connor, at the beginning, and then eleven songs by Carmen McRae, following. There are no liner notes, no information about when these recordings were made, and nothing to indicate who the musicians are who accompany these stars. Most of the songs have been recorded elsewhere, and some are songs these stars made famous.



Connor's tracks have been recorded in many different venues. Originally a big band singer, most notably with Stan Kenton, she left to pursue the intimacy of cabarets where she was more comfortable and where she could experiment. Here we hear both kinds of music--several tracks with an enormous big band accompaniment, and several others (more enjoyable) where she has only a piano, bass, and soft percussion.



One of her most famous songs, "All About Ronnie," a gorgeous ballad that became a signature song, is heard here with a simple accompaniment. An unusual treatment of "Sorrento" uses jazz variations on piano, bass, and drums, and an upbeat rhythm to allow Connor to play with the tune, one which in other hands is so often mournful. The simple song "Indian Summer" sounds just plain weird here, however, with a grand intro full of blaring trumpets and a full orchestra, overpowering Connor and everything else. Connor is at peak, with a strong voice, a unique flair in her song treatments, and unusual endings to her songs.



Carmen McRae's contribution to the CD is quite different--much more unified, and frankly, more interesting. Recorded at McRae's first concert ever in Great Britain at the Flamingo Club, it features, according to McRae, British drummer Phil Seamans and one of McRae's favorite American pianists, Don Abney, in addition to a bassist. McRae's voice is high here, not yet reaching the deeper tones she was famous for later, and resembling that of Billie Holiday, her friend and mentor. She is free and easy--improvising, creating variations, and showing her immense talents.



"Thou Swell" is wild. "Round About Midnight," written by her friend Thelonius Monk, is dramatic, and "Don't Ever Leave Me," a quiet, gorgeous ballad with only a piano accompaniment, is a show-stopper. "Day in, Day Out," features a fantastic drum solo by Seamans, but in this, as in all these tracks, no one ever overpowers or takes the spotlight from Mcrae.



Showing the dramatic contrast of styles between two of the great jazz singers of the age, this CD is a terrific introduction to both singers. n Mary Whipple



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