HELEN MERRILL - Helen Merrill (1955-1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Though she eventually came to be known as a "singer's singer," Helen Merrill's 1954 debut is an unmitigated success of mainstream jazz. Besides introducing the uniquely talented young singer, the date also featured small-group arrangements by Quincy Jones and marks the introduction of another future star, trumpeter Clifford Brown. Formidable as his playing is, Brown never overshadows Merrill. She is fully up to the challenge on all fronts and enthusiastically tackles uptempo numbers such as "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" and "Falling in Love with Love" with aplomb. A winning stylistic combination of cool jazz and hard bop, Merrill particularly excels on Mel Tormé's "Born to Be Blue," making the sophisticated tune her own as she revels in Tormé's down-and-out lyric. Richard Mortifoglio
Tracklist :
1     Don't Explain 5:08
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.     
2     You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To 4:17
Cole Porter    
3     What's New? 4:56
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart    
4     Falling in Love with Love 3:52
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers    
5     Yesterdays 5:56
Otto Harbach / Jerome Kern    
6     Born to Be Blue 5:12
Al Hoffman / Abner Silver    
7    'S Wonderful 3:12
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Credits :    
Bass – Milt Hinton
Bass, Cello – Oscar Pettiford
Drums – Bob Donaldson, Osie Johnson
Flute – Donny Banks
Guitar – Barry Galbraith
Piano – Jimmy Jones
Producer, Arranged By, Liner Notes – Quincy Jones
Trumpet – Clifford Brown
Vocals – Helen Merrill