Jazz Divas: Gold

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: The history of jazz is rich with so many fine singers, how does a neophyte know where to begin? Or rather, where can a casual fan obtain an assortment of cool songs by the coolest singers? Answer: JAZZ DIVAS: GOLD. This 35-track collection provides a nearly perfect overview of the history of American jazz singing by women, including those singers whose approach neatly straddles both jazz and pop music (Freda Payne, Gloria Lynne, Marlena Shaw). The all-time greats are here, including those who have come to define jazz singing (Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Betty Carter); singers that are also known as blues and/or R&B performers (Etta James, the wonderful Dinah Washington); exemplars of old-school cool (Annie Ross, Helen Merrill) and elegance (Morgana King, Peggy Lee); and modern divas whose approaches absorb non-jazz influences (Cassandra Wilson). This collection is an absolute winner. There are no less than 20 CD compilations on the market with the words "Jazz Divas" in the title, and another eight that use the phrase "Divas of Jazz." Those two nouns, so carelessly bandied about, describe improvising female vocalists whose works are an extension of a tradition established by Bessie Smith, Adelaide Hall, Ethel Waters, Mildred Bailey, Ivie Anderson, Valaida Snow, Una Mae Carlisle, and Lee Wiley, none of whom appear on Verve's 2007 double-disc anthology titled Jazz Divas: Gold. Although a collection this diverse is vulnerable to criticism, particularly in regards to the song choices that were made, the temporal range -- May 1938 through June 1997 -- allows for a healthy overview of stylistic evolution. Thirty singers are represented here, with Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, and Nina Simone checking in twice (each of the five has her own volume in Verve's Gold series). This is a mainstream selection; while the omission of Ada Moore, Jeanne Lee, and June Tyson is therefore not surprising, the absence of Pearl Bailey, Betty Roch�, and Etta Jones is most unfortunate. On the positive side, it's an entertaining survey of mostly great recordings made over a span of six decades by a variegated assortment of female jazz vocalists. ~ arwulf arwulf

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