Search - Various Artists :: Great Ladies Sing Gershwin

Songbirds shining brightly as they sing these Gershwin tunes

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 04/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great Ladies Sing Gershwin is an excellent, budget priced CD that gives people in all economic brackets the chance to have a fine sampler of great songbirds sings Gershwin tunes. The sound quality is excellent; and I really like that artwork, too.



Ella Fitzgerald, the First Lady Of Song, starts the whole thing off with a great interpretation of "Fascinatin' Rhythm;" her jazzy rendition works wonders for this classic ballad. Ella sings her heart out and this is all very impressive! I love that horn work, too. Sarah Vaughan weighs in next with a smashing interpretation of "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off." "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" is a highlight of this album; Sarah gets a sublime piano arrangement to accompany her and the rest of the music isn't too shabby, either!



Nina Simone sings "I Loves You, Porgy" from Porgy And Bess;" Nina never sounded better and her excellent vocal talents make her rendition a splendid version of this classic ballad. Excellent! Listen also for a live track of the great Dinah Washington belting out "Summertime" which also comes from Porgy And Bess; Dinah does this one up right as she sings with panache, heart and soul. That horn solo is very beautiful as well.



Ella Fitzgerald comes back on "Nice Work If You Can Get It." "Nice Work If You Can Get It" is one of my very favorite Gershwin tunes of all time; and only Ella Fitzgerald could deliver this so well! Ella's voice is as clear as a bell and she really throws herself into her performance. In addition, Sarah Vaughan also returns with a rousing "'S Wonderful;" Sarah delivers this with all her might and it shows when you hear it. The musical arrangement is very elegant while Sarah makes her mark on "'S Wonderful."



Sarah Vaughan's "Someone To Watch Over Me" takes this classic Gershwin tune to new heights; she performs this with great sensitivity and the piano arrangement is really very pretty. Sarah's excellent sense of timing and her wonderful diction make her performance all the stronger! Sarah also sings "Embraceable You;" she makes this into a bright masterpiece!



Betty Carter ends the album with a beautiful take on "The Man I Love;" and this tune shines when Betty sings it! This is a fine ending for this album.



Overall, I really like this album. It brings together some of the greatest songbirds ever and when they sing Gershwin tunes it makes a very special album. I highly recommend this for fans of Gershwin music and people who like these recording artists will appreciate this album, too.

"

Intense

Denise | PA | 03/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This was my first Gershwin purchase. The magnificent female voices captured his feelings. I was moved the first time I listened and am still moved the 3,000th time I listen to it. It sets a romantic, still mood. You'll know what I mean when you listen."

The Ladies Sing with Class

A. B. King | 08/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These are classic renditions of classic Gershwin from Verve Records. The only disappointment is The Dinah Washington rendition of Summertime is an instrumental, no Dinah singing, unless she's humming in the background. The trumpet solo is marvelous. She does sing "I've got a crush on you." No liner notes are provided. All you get is the singer, the title and the original album."