Ballads [Blue Note]

Performer: Dinah Washington
Artist: Don Costa
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Dinah Washington (vocals); Marty Manning, Don Costa, Fred Norman (arranger). Producer: Henry Glover. Compilation producer: Michael Cuscuna. Recorded between 1962 & 1963. Originally released on Roulette Records. All tracks have been digitally remastered. This is part of Blue Note Records "Ballads" series. Including tracks from her early-'60s period at Roulette, Ballads is a collection aimed at casual fans of Dinah Washington, one of the most bewitching vocalists of the jazz era. Granted, this wasn't the peak of her career; she only recorded five records with the label, most of them shortly before her death. Contrary to the thoughts of jazz critics, though, Washington was still singing with strength and subtlety, and the compilers deftly build the theme of an ongoing relationship with this sequence of standards. Beginning with the dreamy "Lover Man," Ballads progresses through the first blush of a love affair ("I Didn't Know About You") and takes in a few highs ("If It's the Last Thing I Do") along with plenty of lows ("He's Gone Again," "What's New?," "These Foolish Things," "Baby Won't You Please Come Home"). The arrangements are smooth and occasionally overly maudlin, but the assured voice of Dinah Washington triumphs in every setting. ~ John Bush

Despite a relatively short career--she died in 1963 at the age of 39--Dinah Washington laid claim to being one of the major jazz voices, and one of the most versatile of all jazz singers. Her voice was rich; she filled everything she sang with heartfelt emotion, and she could make even material of less than stellar quality sound deeply moving. More importantly, she was equally at home (and had hits) with blues, popular songs of the day, and standards; toward the end she also became a major voice of the burgeoning soul movement.

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25