CLEO LAINE - Jazz (1991)

Cleo Laine has always had a beautiful voice with a very wide range and she sounds her best in jazz settings. Laine isn't that much of a jazz singer herself since she does not improvise (her scatting passages tend to be played in unison with her husband, John Dankworth) but she swings. Jazz is one of her best sets of the '90s, teaming her with five reeds (including Dankworth), guitarist Larry Koonse and one of two rhythm sections. Gerry Mulligan guests on "Walking Shoes" and "Midnight Sun," Clark Terry is exuberant on "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" and a medium-tempo version of "A Child Is Born," Toots Thielemans is a strong asset on three songs, Jane Ira Bloom co-stars on "I Told You So" and Mark Whitfield is on the two Terry numbers. Throughout, Cleo Laine is heard in prime form, not offering surprises as much as confirmation of her love for jazz. Recommended. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1  Just a Sittin' and a Rockin' 6:37 
Duke Ellington / Lee Gaines / Billy Strayhorn
2  My One and Only Love  5:53  
Robert Mellin / Guy Wood
3  Walking Shoes 3:59 
Gerry Mulligan / Mel Tormé / Bobby Troup
4  I Told You So 6:38
Duncan Lamont
5  It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 4:04
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
6  Won't You Tell Me Why 4:26  
John Dankworth / Cleo Laine
7  Bluesette 4:31
Norman Gimbel / Toots Thielemans
8  Midnight Sun 6:39
Sonny Burke / Lionel Hampton / Johnny Mercer
9  Oh, Lady Be Good 3:43  
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
10  St. Louis Blues 4:16
W.C. Handy
11  A Child Is Born 5:07  
Thad Jones / Alec Wilder
12 You Can Always Count on Me 5:01
Cy Coleman / David Zippel
Credits
Jane Ira Bloom, Sax (Soprano)
John Campbell, iano
Terry Clarke, Drums
John Dankworth Arranger, Composer, Conductor
Rich Girard Bass
Larry Koonse Guitar
Cleo Laine Composer, Vocals
Jay Leonhart Bass
Gerry Mulligan Composer, Sax (Baritone)
Mike Renzi Piano
Clark Terry Flugelhorn, Guest Artist, Trumpet
Toots Thielemans Composer, Guest Artist, Harmonica
Mark Whitfield Guest Artist, Guitar
Jim Zimmerman Drums

CLEO LAINE - Jazz 

[1991] BMG / FLAC / scans

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