CARMEN McRAE - It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feelings (1973-1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This album captures the best of Carmen McRae's performances at a monthlong appearance at New York's Village Gate jazz club in November 1965. At the top of her form and employing her usual laid-back manner with lots of well-placed space between words and phrases, McRae delivers on a set of those songs that have a touch of irony she seemed to favor as her career and voice matured, with tunes by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley getting the heaviest play. On "Don't Explain," the irony is so powerful that her voice takes on a wounded quality. McRae made this song part of her program as often as she could to honor her mentor, Billie Holiday. Her ability to work behind the beat and her unique wordless vocalizing punctuate this album, being especially effective on "Sometimes I'm Happy," which she turns into a torch song. One of the album's high points is the a cappella opening to "Feeling Good," before the band drifts in with a Latin beat and Ray Beckenstein's flute carrying the instrumental load. Subtlety is not one of the qualities McRae will be especially remembered for. When she wanted to belt, she belted -- and she does with "I Wish I Were in Love Again." All in all, a very satisfying set from a singer who may not be quite up to the level of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan, but who is certainly close enough to be numbered among the vocal jazz elite. Dave Nathan  
Tracklist :
1     It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling 3'48
Mark Grant
2     I Fall in Love Too Easily 3'47
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
3     Hey John 3'23
Jim Council
4     Where Are the Words 3'17
Frank Severino
5     Nice Work If You Can Get It 2'50
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6     Straighten up and Fly Right 2'47
Nat King Cole / Irving Mills
7     Inside a Silent Tear 5'49
Blossom Dearie / A. King
8     Imagination 4'22
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
9     The Right to Love 4'14
Gene Lees / Lalo Schifrin
10     All the Things You Are 3'59
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
Credits :
Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Frank Severino
Guitar – Joe Pass
Piano – Dick Shreeve
Vibraphone – Larry Bunker