HELEN MERRILL - The Helen Merrill-Dick Katz Sessions (2008) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

This Mosaic compilation pairs two long unavailable sessions for Milestone by vocalist Helen Merrill with pianist Dick Katz, both of which are magical meetings. Merrill is just like another one of the instrumentalists on each date, improvising and conveying her emotions without overdoing it. The first nine selections are from the 1965 LP The Feeling Is Mutual, with guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Ron Carter, cornetist Thad Jones, and either Pete La Roca or Arnie Wise on drums. Most of the initial album focuses on standards, highlighted by a poignant take of "Here's That Rainy Day" and a subtle arrangement of Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain." In addition to familiar songs, the musicians tackled Alec Wilder's bittersweet ballad "The Winter of My Discontent" and Hoagy Carmichael's loping "Baltimore Oriole," both of which were new to all of them, with Merrill and company delivering effective interpretations. Songs from A Shade of Difference feature similar personnel, adding flautist Hubert Laws, while alto saxophonist Gary Bartz appears on Ornette Coleman's dissonant"Lonely Woman," with Richard Davis and Elvin Jones subbing in the rhythm section. Merrill's cool, bluesy interpretation of "I Want a Little Boy" contrasts with her breezy performance of "Never Will I Marry." An oddity: Marian McPartland mentions "Looking for a Boy" in her liner notes, though that song is nowhere to be found in this compilation. Perhaps the song was omitted for time reasons, but there is no explanation in the CD credits. Ken Dryden

Tracklist :
1    You're My Thrill 3:17
Written-By – Jay Gorney, Sidney Clare
2    It Don't Mean A Thing 4:59
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
3    Here's That Rainy Day 2:40
Written-By – Jimmy Van Heusen And Johnny Burke
4    Baltimore Oriole 4:49
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Francis Webster
5    Don't Explain 2:38
Written-By – Billie Holiday, Paul Francis Webster
6    What Is This Thing Called Love? 3:41
Written-By – Cole Porter
7    The Winter Of My Discontent 6:01
Written-By – Alec Wilder, Ben Ross Berenberg
8    Day Dream 5:13
Written-By – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, John Latouche
9    Deep In A Dream 3:14
Written-By – Eddie Delange, Jimmy Van Heusen
10    Lonely Woman 3:19
Written-By – Margo Guryan, Ornette Coleman
11    While We're Young 4:13
Written-By – Alec Wilder, Morty Palitz, William Engvick
12    Never Will I Marry 5:29
Written-By – Frank Loesser
13    I Should Care 2:25
Written-By – Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn
14    A Lady Must Live 3:51
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
15    Looking For A Boy 2:51
Written-By – Billy Moll, Murray Mencher
16    Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most 4:47
Written-By – Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf
17    My Funny Valentine 6:39
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
18    Lover Come Back To Me 5:01
Written-By – Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg
19    Where Do You Go? 2:23
Written-By – Alec Wilder, Arnold Sundgaard
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone – Gary Bartz (tracks: 10)
Bass – Richard Davis (2) (tracks: 10), Ron Carter (tracks: 1 to 9, 11 to 19)
Cornet – Thad Jones (tracks: 1 to 10)
Drums – Arnie Wise (tracks: 1 to 9), Elvin Jones (tracks: 10 to 16, 18), Pete LaRoca* (tracks: 1 to 9)
Flugelhorn – Thad Jones (tracks: 10 to 19)
Flute – Hubert Laws (tracks: 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19)
Guitar – Jim Hall (tracks: 1 to 16, 18, 19)
Piano – Dick Katz (tracks: 1 to 10, 12 to 16, 18)
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Producer, Arranged By – Dick Katz
Vocals – Helen Merrill