The Hottest New Group in Jazz [Compilation] [Remaster]

Performer: Lambert, Hendricks & Ross
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: THE HOTTEST NEW GROUP IN JAZZ contains 3 LPs that Lambert, Hendricks & Ross made for Columbia records: THE HOTTEST NEW GROUP IN JAZZ; LHR SING ELLINGTON; and HIGH FLYING. Lambert, Hendricks & Ross: Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross (vocals); Additional personnel: Pony Poindexter (alto saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Gildo Mahones (piano); Ike Isaacs, Ron Carter, W. Yancey (bass); Walter Bolden, Jimmy Wormsworth, Stu Martin (drums). Includes liner notes by Will Friedwald. All tracks have been digitally remastered. The immortal vocal jazz group Lambert, Hendricks & Ross recorded five albums during its career: one apiece for Impulse! and World Pacific and three for Columbia. This two-CD set has all of the music from LH&R's Columbia dates (The Hottest Group in Jazz, Sing Ellington, and High Flying), plus four previously unissued and three very obscure selections. Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and Annie Ross were all very talented jazz singers as individuals, and were masters of vocalese. Virtually every one of their performances was special and, in the long run, influential. With assistance from the Gildo Mahones Trio, trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison (on the earliest album), and altoist Pony Poindexter (during the seven bonus tracks), the vocal group is heard in memorable form throughout the two-fer. Among the many highlights are "Twisted," "Cloudburst," Hendricks' hilarious "Gimme That Wine," "Everybody's Boppin'," "Cotton Tail," "All Too Soon," "Main Stem," "Farmer's Market," "Cookin' at the Continental," "Halloween Spooks," and "Popity Pop." Essential music for all serious jazz collections. ~ Scott Yanow

Down Beat (6/97, pp.48-49) - 3 1/2 stars (out of 5) - "...even today the sheer vocal athletics involved are astounding..." JazzTimes (3/97, p.109) - "This two-CD package dates back more than 30 years, but it has lost little of its hipness during that time. If anything...[it] should win new fans to the art of vocalese..."

Lambert, Hendricks & Ross was a vocal trio brought together three extremely gifted bop-influenced vocalists with the express desire to perfect the art of vocalese, which put lyrics to melodies defined by well known solos from previous jazz records. The group's debut recording, SING A SONG OF BASIE, also utilized overdubbing to re-create with voices the instrumental parts in Basie's big band arrangements. The album made them stars, and they became one of the most popular jazz acts of the late '50s and early '60s. Their collective jazz vocalese accomplishments have never been surpassed.

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