This is Carmen McRae's first recording as a leader. She's heard on four
songs apiece with the Mat Mathews Quintet (a group including Herbie Mann
on flute and tenor, and guitarist Mundell Lowe) and clarinetist Tony
Scott's Quartet. On the emotional "Misery," Scott switches to piano and
is the only accompanist to the singer. Five alternate takes augment this
set, which emphasizes ballads. Overall the music is pleasing but not
too memorable and one wishes there were more variety. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 You'd Be So Easy To Love 5:01
Written-By – Porter
2 If I'm Lucky 2:36
Written-By – Darwin, Girard
3 Old Devil Moon 2:38
Written-By – Lane
Written-By – Harburg
4 Tip Toe Gently 2:08
Written-By – Mathews, Girard
5 You Made Me Care 3:03
Written-By – Girard
Written-By – Darwin
6 Last Time For Love 3:50
Written-By – McRae
7 Misery 2:23
Written-By – Scott
8 Too Much In Love To Care 3:16
Written-By – Kriegsman
Written-By – Coates
Alternate Takes
9 Too Much In Love To Care (Alternate Take) 2:36
Written-By – Coates, Kriegsman
10 Old Devil Moon (Alternate Stereo) 2:58
Written-By – Lane, Harburg
11 You Made Me Care (Alternate Stereo) 2:07
Written-By – Darwin, Girard
12 Too Much In Love To Care (Alternate Stereo) 2:17
Written-By – Coates
Written-By – Kriegsman
13 Last Time For Love (Alternate Stereo) 3:03
Written-By – McRae
Credits
Performer – Mat Mathews Quartet, The Tony Scott Quartet (tracks: Tony Scott Quartet)
Piano – Tony Scott (tracks: 7)
Vocals – Carmen McRae
Tuesday, August 23, 2022
CARMEN McRAE - Carmen McRae [Bethlehem] (1954-2000) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
CARMEN McRAE - After Glow (2018) RM | MONO | SHM-CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Leo Robin / Richard A. Whiting
2 Guess Who I Saw Today 3'35
Elisse Boyd / Murray Grand
3 My Funny Valentine 4'20
Richard Rodgers
4 The Little Things That Mean So Much 3'14
Harold Adamson / Teddy Wilson
5 I'm Thru With Love 4'10
Fud Livingston / Matty Malneck
6 Nice Work If You Can Get It 2'29
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
7 East of the Sun (West of the Moon) 2'15
Brooks Bowman
8 Exactly Like You 2'10
Jimmy McHugh
9 All My Life 4'15
Sidney D. Mitchell / Sam H. Stept
10 Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 2'26
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
11 Dream of Life 4'00
Luther Henderson Jr. / Carmen McRae
12 Perdido 2'18
Juan Tizol
Credits:
Bass – Ike Isaacs
Drums – Specs Wright
Piano – Carmen McRae (pistas: 1, 4, 8, 12), Ray Bryant
Vocals – Carmen McRae
CARMEN McRAE - Carmen for Cool Ones (1958-1992) MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Carmen McRae is in great form on these 1957 studio sessions with a jazz group and orchestra
conducted by Fred Katz. Her rich voice is never overpowered by the 13 strings, which for the most part stay behind the singer and the jazz instrumentalists. The strongest tracks include a swinging "All the Things You Are" (backed by some interesting writing for the reed section), an unusual treatment of "What's New" (featuring vibraphonist Larry Bunker and Joe Marino on celeste), a particularly dark version of "The Night We Called It a Day" (featuring Katz on cello), and a moving "I Remember Clifford," a fairly new piece which Benny Golson had recently composed following the tragic death of Clifford Brown. Even the obscure songs of these sessions, which include "A Shoulder to Cry On" and "Without a Word of Warning," are worth investigating. Unfortunately, only a few of these tracks have been reissued as a part of the compilation I'll Be Seeing You, though the Japanese division of Universal reissued this long out-of-print session in a beautifully packaged mini-LP-type sleeve in 2001. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
All the Things You Are 2'26
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
2 A Shoulder to Cry On 3'53
Chuck Darwin / Paulette Girard
3 Any Old Time 3'10
Artie Shaw
4 Weak for the Man 4'08
Jeanne Burns
5 What's New 2'29
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart / Robert Haggart
6 I Get a Kick Out of You 2'15
Cole Porter
7 (What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry 1'47
Walter Donaldson / Abe Lyman
8 Without a Word of Warning 3'20
Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
9 If I Were a Bell 3'27
Sam M. Lewis / Samuel Lewis / Ted Snyder / Joe Young / Victor Young
10 You Are Mine 1'55
Frank Loesser
11 The Night We Called It a Day 4'27
Tom Adair / Matt Dennis
12 I Remember Clifford 2'58
Benny Golson / Jon Hendricks
Credits :
Directed By [Orchestra] – Fred Katz
Vocals – Carmen McRae
CARMEN McRAE - Birds Of A Feather (1958-2002) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Yes, there's a concept on the loose here -- all the songs are about birds. Fortunately, there are plenty of good songs on the subject, and it's not so narrow that all the focus hinges on birds themselves. Carmen McRae is supported by a good small group, directed and arranged by Ralph Burns, featuring guitarist Mundell Lowe and many solos for an uncredited "tenorman" (i.e., Ben Webster). Both McRae and Webster do their best on the driving, horn-heavy score for "Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight)." First, Webster follows closely along with trumpeter Irwin "Marky" Markowitz while McRae vocalizes clearly and with some swing, then launches a beautiful solo before McRae returns for the closer. Other highlights include the touching "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and a relaxed, pastoral "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano." John Bush
Tracklist :
1 Skylark 3'02
Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
2 Bob White 2'57
Bernie Hanighen / Johnny Mercer
3 A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square 4'58
Eric Maschwitz / Manning Sherwin
4 Mister Meadowlark 2'44
Walter Donaldson / Johnny Mercer
5 Bye Bye Blackbird 3'27
Mort Dixon / Ray Henderson
6 Flamingo 3'47
Edmund Anderson / Edward Anderson / Ted Grouya / Theodor Grouya
7 The Eagle and Me 2'47
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
8 Baltimore Oriole 3'53
Hoagy Carmichael / Paul Francis Webster
9 When the Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bobbin' Along 2'29
Harry Woods
10 Chicken Today and Feathers Tomorrow 3'11
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Johnny Mandel / Johnny Marks
11 When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano 2'35
Leon René
12 His Eye Is on the Sparrow 3'19
Milt Gabler / Traditional
Credits:
Directed By [Orchestra] – Ralph Burns
Vocals – Carmen McRae
CARMEN McRAE - Something to Swing About (1959-1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Tracklist :
1 I See Your Face Before Me 1'52
Howard Dietz / Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby / Arthur Schwartz
2 A Sleepin' Bee 2'26
Harold Arlen / Truman Capote / Simon Rogers
3 Comes Love 2'47
Lew Brown / Richard Rodgers / Sam H. Stept / Charles Tobias
4 Three Little Words 2'28
Bert Kalmar / Carolyn Leigh / Harry Ruby / Philip Springer
5 It's Love 2'37
Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Friedrich Hollaender
6 (How Little It Matters) How Little We Know 2'56
Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Carolyn Leigh / Philip Springer
7 You Leave Me Breathless 2'02
June Carroll / Ralph Freed / Frederick Hollander / Arthur Spiegel
8 Love Is a Simple Thing 2'44
Lew Brown / June Carroll / Arthur Siegel / Sam H. Stept / Charles Tobias
9 I Couldn't Care Less 2'27
Harold Arlen
10 Falling in Love With Love 2'22
Howard Dietz / Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers / Arthur Schwartz
11 That's for Me 2'21
Howard Dietz / Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers / Arthur Schwartz
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods
Arranged By, Conductor – Ernie Wilkins
Orchestra – Ernie Wilkens Orchestra
Piano – Dick Katz
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims
Trombone – Jimmy Cleveland
Trumpet – Richard Williams
Vocals – Carmen McRae
CARMEN McRAE - Just a Little Lovin' (1970-2013) RM | Jazz Best Collection 1000 - 7 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Released in 1970, Just a Little Lovin' was the fourth (and last) studio album Carmen McRae cut for Atlantic Records in the late '60s/early '70s. The albums were for the most part a mix of pop and jazz songs with a decidedly pop angle. Just a Little Lovin' isn't too different, though it leans more toward the soulful end of the street. Producer Arif Mardin put McRae together with the Dixie Flyers studio band, backup singers extraordinaire the Sweet Inspirations, and an all-star horn section led by King Curtis, and then let her loose on the usual Beatles covers (a lifeless "Something," a very relaxed and sensual "Here, There and Everywhere," and a dramatic take on "Carry That Weight") and pop tunes like Jimmy Webb's "Didn't We" and Laura Nyro's "Goodbye Joe." So far, so half decent. Where the album really takes off is on the tracks that sound more down-home and Southern, like those cribbed from Dusty in Memphis ("Just a Little Lovin'," "Breakfast in Bed"), the Willie Dixon blues "I Love the Life I Live," and the tracks written by Tony Joe White (the funky-as-dirt "I Thought I Knew You Well" and "I Want You"). The band sounds totally in the groove on these cuts and McRae responds with some supremely gritty performances. As with all her other Atlantic records, it's a mixed bag but well worth picking up for Carmen McRae fans -- and if you aren't one, you should be! Tim Sendra
Tracklist :
1 Just a Little Lovin' 2'12
Barry Mann / Cynthia Weil
2 Something 3'07
George Harrison
3 I Thought I Knew You Well 3'56
Tony Joe White
4 I Want You 2'22
Tony Joe White
5 More Today Than Yesterday 3'06
Pat Upton
6 Here, There and Everywhere 2'36
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
7 Carry That Weight 2'48
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
8 Breakfast in Bed 3'18
Donnie Fritts / Eddie Hinton
9 I Love the Life I Live 2'30
Willie Dixon
10 What'cha Gonna Do 3'35
Donnie Fritts
11 Didn't We 3'20
Jimmy Webb
12 Goodbye Joe 2'36
Laura Nyro
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – George Dorsey
Arranged By – Arif Mardin
Backing Band – The Dixie Flyers
Backing Vocals – The Sweet Inspirations
Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams
Bass – Tommy McClure
Drums, Percussion – Sammy Creason
French Horn, Conductor [String Section] – Gene Orloff
Guitar – Alexander Gafa (pistas: B5)
Guitar, Keyboards – Jim Dickinson
Lead Guitar – Charlie Freeman
Organ, Electric Piano – Michael Utley
Other [Carmen McRae's Coiffure] – Bruce Vanderhoff
Tenor Saxophone [Solos], Alto Saxophone [Solos] – King Curtis
Trombone – Garnet Brown
Trumpet – Joe Newman
Woodwind – George Marge, Romeo Penque, Walter Kane
Friday, August 19, 2022
CARMEN McRAE - Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics (1962-1997) RM | APE (image+.cue), lossless
Carmen McRae is definitely one of jazz's underrated vocalists as this tribute to her idol, Lady Day clearly shows. Carmen proves she is a mean swinger on tracks like Them There Eyes, I Cried For You & especially Miss Brown To You, where her response at the end of the horn solo is just a slice of jazz heaven. On the ballads, Carmen is mellow & tender on numbers like Lover Man and has that bittersweet cynicism on torch songs like Yesterdays. Carmen never tries to imitate Lady Day but leaves her own unique stamp on each & every one of these Holiday classics. An album easily recommended for any Carmen fanatic or someone looking for the ideal place to start one's love affair with one of jazz's top songbirds or vocal jazz in general. Luc Ow
Tracklist :
1 Them There Eyes 2'45
Maceo Pinkard / Doris Tauber / William Tracey
2 Yesterdays 4'52
West Arkeen / Otto Harbach / Del James / J.J. Johnson / Jerome Kern / Axl Rose
3 I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Away the Key) 2'32
Jim Eaton / Jimmy Eaton / Terry Shand
4 Strange Fruit 2'47
Lewis Allan
5 Miss Brown to You 2'27
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin / Richard A. Whiting
6 My Man 4'05
Jacques Charles / Channing Pollack / Albert Willemetz / Maurice Yvain
7 I Cried for You 2'52
Gus Arnheim / Arthur Freed / Abe Lyman
8 Lover Man 4'18
Jimmy Davis / Ram Ramirez / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Roger Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
9 Trav'lin' Light 2'19
Johnny Mercer / Jimmy Mundy / Trummy Young
10 Some Other Spring 3'02
Arthur Herzog, Jr. / Irene Kitchings
11 What a Little Moonlight Can Do 3'31
Harry Woods
12 God Bless the Child 3'24
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.
- BONUS TRACK -
13 If the Moon Turns Green 3'28
Paul Coates / Bernard Haneghen / Bernie Hanighen
14 The Christmas Song 3'55
Mel Tormé / Robert Wells / Ron Wells
Credits :
Bass – Bob Cranshaw
Cornet – Nat Adderley
Drums – Walter Perkins
Guitar – Mundell Lowe
Piano, Celesta (14), Arranged By – Norman Simmons
Producer [Original Recordings] – Teo Macero
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Vocals – Carmen McRae
CARMEN McRAE - Here to Stay (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
One of several CDs that reissue singer Carmen McRae's early Decca recordings, this release draws its material from the 1955 small group album By Special Request and a 1959 record with the Ernie Wilkins Orchestra (Something to Swing About). McRae excels in both settings. While tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims, trumpeter Richard Williams and pianist Dick Katz get some solo space on the latter album, the former one showcases McRae either with Dick Katz's quartet, accordion player Mat Mathews' quintet (with flutist Herbie Mann) or (on "Something to Live For") with its composer Billy Strayhorn on piano. During an emotional rendition of "Supper Time," McRae herself plays piano. Throughout the 20 selections, the singer is heard in her early prime, hitting high notes that she would not even think of attempting in her later years. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Just One of Those Things 2'38
Cole Porter
2 Something to Live For 3'11
Duke Ellington / Billy Strayhorn
3 Sometimes I'm Happy 2'31
Irving Caesar / Clifford Grey / Vincent Youmans
4 This Will Make You Laugh 3'21
Irene Higginbotham
5 Love Is Here to Stay 2'38
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6 I Can't Get Started 3'16
Vernon Duke / Ira Gershwin
7 Supper Time 2'59
Irving Berlin
8 My One and Only Love 3'08
Robert Mellin / Guy Wood
9 I'll Remember April 2'36
Gene DePaul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
10 Yardbird Suite 1'56
Charlie Parker
11 A Sleepin' Bee 2'25
Harold Arlen / Truman Capote
12 Three Little Words 1'50
Bert Kalmar / Harry Ruby
13 Comes Love 2'42
Lew Brown / Sam H. Stept / Charles Tobias
14 I See Your Face Before Me 2'20
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
15 It's Love 2'54
Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green
16 (How Little It Matters) How Little We Know 2'26
Carolyn Leigh / Philip Springer
17 You Leave Me Breathless 2'35
Ralph Freed / Frederick Hollander
18 That's for Me 2'45
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
19 Falling in Love With Love 2'12
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
20 Love Is a Simple Thing 2'03
June Carroll / Arthur Siegel
Recording Date | June 14, 1955 - November 12, 1959
All Credits
CARMEN McRAE - I'm Coming Home Again (1978-2020) 2CD | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Tracklist 1 :
1 I'm Coming Home Again 4'18
Guest [Special Guest] – Hubert Laws
2 Burst In With The Dawn 4'34
Guest [Special Guest] – Freddie Hubbard
3 I Need You In My Life 3'58
Guest [Special Guest] – Hank Crawford
4 Come In From The Rain 4'18
Guest [Special Guest] – Cornell Dupree
5 I Won't Last A Day Without You 7'06
Guest [Special Guest] – Jorge Dalto
6 Won'tcha Stay With Me 6'10
Guest [Special Guest] – Hubert Laws
7 Mr. Magic (I) 4'54
Guest [Special Guest] – Hank Crawford
Tracklist 2 :
1 Everything Must Change 9'10
Guest [Special Guest] – Grover Washington, Jr., Hubert Laws
2 Sweet Alibis 4'50
Guest [Special Guest] – Buster Williams
3 The Masquerade Is Over 4'41
Guest [Special Guest] – Buster Williams
4 I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love 4'35
Guest [Special Guest] – Hank Crawford
5 Mr. Magic (II) 14'09
Guest [Special Guest] – Grover Washington, Jr., Hubert Laws
6 New York State Of Mind 7'40
Guest [Special Guest] – Freddie Hubbard
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Bass [Piccolo], Electric Bass – Buster Williams
Backing Vocals – Curtis King, Darryl Tookes
Backing Vocals, Arranged By, Conductor – Terri Gonzalez
Drums – Chris Parker
Percussion – Errol "Crusher" Bennett
Strings – The String Reunion
Strings [The String Reunion] – Akua Dixon, Bernard Zeller, Edith Wint, Garfield Moore, Gayle Dixon, Jenny Koo, John Blake, Johnson Ning, Nina Simon, Tom Suarez, Valerie Collymore, Winterton Garvey
Tenor Saxophone – Alex Foster
Trombone, Bass Trombone – Janice Robinson
CARMEN McRAE - Ms. Magic (1978-1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
A good compilation of obscure cuts from McRae in different contexts. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1. I'm Coming Home (Roberts-Sager) - 4:21
2. Burst in with the Dawn (Jarreau) - 4:37
3. Come in from the Rain (Manchester-Sager) - 4:17
4. I Won't Last a Day Without You (Nichols-Williams) - 7:11
5. Everything Must Change (Ighner) - 9:00
6. I'd Rather Leave When I'm in Love (Allen-Sager) - 4:39
7. The Masquerade Is Over (Wrubel-Magidson) - 4:44
8. Mr. Magic (MacDonald-Sager) - 14:13
9. New York State of Mind (Joel) - 7:45
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Hank Crawford (pistas: 6)
Bass – Buster Williams (pistas: 7)
Electric Guitar – Cornell Dupree (pistas: 3)
Flugelhorn – Freddie Hubbard (pistas: 2, 9)
Flute – Hubert Laws (pistas: 1, 5, 8)
Piano – Jorge Dalto (pistas: 4)
Soprano Saxophone – Grover Washington, Jr. (pistas: 5, 8)
Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard (pistas: 2, 9)
Vocals – Carmen McRae
CARMEN McRAE - Ms. Jazz (1973-2000) FLAC (tracks), lossless
Tracklist :
1 You Are The Sunshine Of My Life 3:07
Stevie Wonder
2 You And I 4:44
Stevie Wonder
3 You're Mine You 3:06
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman
4 Exactly Like You 3:34
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
5 This Masquerade 3:45
Leon Russell
6 The Good Life 2:48
Sacha Distel / Jack Reardon
7 How Could I Settle For Less 2:32
Steve Allen / Herbert Distel
8 There Will Come A Time 4:14
9 Livin' 4:27
10 Hey John 3:20
Blossom Dearie / A. King
11 I Fall In Love Too Easily 3:44
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
12 Where Are The Words 3:13
Frank Severino
13 Nice Work If You Can Get It 2:49
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
14 Straighten Up And Fly Right 2:40
Nat King Cole / Irving Mills
15 Inside A Silent Tear 5:47
Blossom Dearie / A. King
16 Imagination 4:17
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
17 The Right To Love 4:13
Gene Lees / Lalo Schifrin
18 All The Things You Are 3:59
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
Credits :
Bass – Paul West (pistas: 1 to 10)
Contrabass – Ray Brown (pistas: 11 to 18)
Drums – Frank Severino (pistas: 11 to 18), Jimmy Madison (pistas: 1 to 10)
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli (pistas: 1 to 10), Joe Pass (pistas: 11 to 18)
Piano – Dick Shreve (pistas: 11 to 18), Tom Garvin (pistas: 1 to 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims (pistas: 1 to 10)
Vibraphone, Percussion – Larry Bunker (pistas: 11 to 18)
Monday, August 15, 2022
CARMEN McRAE - Can't Hide Love (1976-2018) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
This is the type of session that killed Blue Note the first time around. Carmen McRae gamely tries to interpret unsuitable and inferior pop tunes ("The Man I Love" and "A Child Is Born" are the only exceptions) and is backed by an all-star but faceless orchestra that is given nothing to do. The trumpet section (which includes Buddy Childers, Bobby Shew, Al Aarons, Snooky Young, Oscar Brashear and Blue Mitchell) is not given a single solo. The title cut is quite ludicrous and songs such as "Only Women Bleed" and "I Wish You Well" do not fit McRae's style at all. Pass on this one and get her earlier Deccas or her later Novus releases instead. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Can't Hide Love 3'54
Arranged By – Gerald Wilson
Composed By – S. Scarborough
2 The Man I Love 4'14
Arranged By – Johnny Mandell
Composed By – C. Porter
3 Only Women Bleed 4'57
Arranged By, Piano – Larry Carlton
Composed By – D. Wagner, V. Furnier
Keyboards – Dave Grusin
Synthesizer – Ian Underwood
4 I Wish You Well 3'16
Arranged By – Thad Jones
Composed By – B. Withers
5 All By Myself 6'01
Arranged By – Dale Oehler
Composed By – E. Carmen
Concertmaster – David Frisina
Soloist, Piano – Marshall Otwell
6 Music 3'30
Arranged By – Dale Oehler
Composed By – J. Taylor
Concertmaster – David Frisina
Keyboards – Marshall Otwell
7 Lost Up In Loving You 4'37
Arranged By, Keyboards – Dave Grusin
Composed By – K. Rankin, W. Smith, Y. Rankin
Synthesizer – Ian Underwood
8 You're Everything 2'49
Arranged By – Thad Jones
Composed By – C. Corea
9 Would You Believe 4'08
Arranged By – Johnny Mandel
Composed By – C. Coleman
10 A Child Is Born 3'25
Arranged By – Thad Jones
Composed By – T. Jones
Soloist, Piano – Marshall Otwell
Credits :
Bass – Chuck Berghofer (pistas: 1, 3 to 5, 7, 8), Joe Mondragon (pistas: 2, 9, 10), Wilton Felder (pistas: 6)
Concertmaster – Gerry Vinci (pistas: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10)
Contractor – Jules Chaikin
Drums – Harvey Mason
Electric Piano – Marshall Otwell (pistas: 2, 9, 10)
Guitar – Dennis Budimir (pistas: 2, 3, 5 to 7, 9, 10), Larry Carlton (pistas: 3, 5 to 7)
Keyboards – Joe Sample (pistas: 1, 4 to 6, 8)
Percussion – Larry Bunker (pistas: 1, 4, 8)
Piano – Artie Kane (pistas: 2, 9, 10)
Reeds – Abe Most (pistas: 2, 9, 10), Bill Perkins (pistas: 2, 9, 10), Harry Klee (pistas: 2, 9, 10), Lanny Morgan (pistas: 2, 9, 10), Bill Green (pistas: 2, 9, 10)
Saxophone – Don Menza (pistas: 1, 4, 8), Ernie Watts (pistas: 1, 4, 8), Jack Nimitz (pistas: 1, 4, 8), Jerome Richardson (pistas: 1, 4, 8), Pete Christlieb (pistas: 1, 4, 8)
Trombone – Ernie Tack (pistas: 1, 4, 8), George Bohannon (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 8 to 10), Grover Mitchell (pistas: 1, 4, 8), Kenny Shroyer (pistas: 2, 9, 10), Lew McCreary (pistas: 2, 9, 10), Maurice Spears (pistas: 1, 4, 8)
Trumpet – Al Aarons (pistas: 2, 9, 10), Blue Mitchell (pistas: 1, 4, 8), Bobby Shew (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 8 to 10), Buddy Childers (pistas: 2, 9, 10), Oscar Brashear (pistas: 1, 4, 8), Snooky Young (pistas: 1, 4, 8)
CARMEN McRAE - Blue Note Live At The Roxy Vol. 2 (1976-2012) FLAC (tracks), lossless
Tracklist :
1 Carmen McRae– Music 3'55
Written-By – James Taylor
2 Carmen McRae– Paint Your Pretty Picture 4'52
Written-By – Bill Withers
3 Carmen McRae– Them There Eyes 1'52
Written-By – D.Tauber, M.Pinkard, W.Tracey
4 Carmen McRae– T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do 5'00
Written-By – E. Robbins, P. Grainger
5 Carmen McRae– You're Everything 3'00
Written-By – Chick Corea
6 Councilman Dave Cunningham– Presentation Of Proclamation 4:39
Medley: (12'56)
7.1 Earl Klugh– Like A Lover
Written-By – A. Bergman, M. Bergman, N. Motta, D. Caymmi
7.2 Earl Klugh– A Felicidade
Written-By – A. C. Jobim, V. De Moraes
7.3 Earl Klugh– Manha De Carnaval
Written-By – A. Maria, L. Bonfa
7.4 Earl Klugh– Samba De Orfeu
Written-By – A. Maria, L. Bonfa
8 Blue Note All-Stars– Blue Note '76 12'46
Conductor, Written-By – Jerry Peters
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Gary Herbig (pistas: 8)
Bass – Bernard Baron (pistas: 1 to 5), Hubert Crawford (pistas: 7)
Bass [Overdub] – Ron Carter (pistas: 7)
Contractor – Jules Chaikin
Drums – Edward Bennett (5) (pistas: 1 to 5), Ndugu Leon Chancler* (pistas: 7)
Drums, Percussion – Gerry Brown (pistas: 8)
Electric Bass – John Lee (pistas: 8)
Electric Piano – Marshall Otwell (pistas: 1 to 5)
Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Fred Jackson (pistas: 8)
Guitar – Earl Klugh (pistas: 7, 8)
Marimba – Bobby Hutcherson (pistas: 8)
Percussion – Leon Chancler (pistas: 8)
Piano – Robert Budson (pistas: 7)
Piano, Electric Piano – Gene Harris (pistas: 8)
Trombone – George Bohanon (pistas: 8)
Trumpet – Chuck Findley (pistas: 8)
Vocals – Carmen McRae (pistas: 1 to 5)
CARMEN McRAE - Velvet Soul (1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Recent reissue of early '70s material on the Groove Merchant label. McRae was doing mix of standards, ballads, a little blues, and some originals, and was also experimenting with some soul jazz. These are not as well done as her material on some other labels, but are interesting for showing the mood of a label in the transitional '70s. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1 Nice Work If You Can Get It 2 51
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2 It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling 3 49
Mark Grant
3 I Fall in Love Too Easily 3'50
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
4 Hey John 3'25
Jim Council / Blossom Dearie
5 Where Are the Words 3'19
Frank Severino
6 Straighten up & Fly Right 3'01
Nat King Cole / Irving Mills
7 Inside a Silent Tear 6'10
Blossom Dearie / A. King
8 Imagination 4'23
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
9 The Right to Love 4'18
Gene Lees / Lalo Schifrin
10 All the Things You Are 4'02
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
11 You're Mine, You 3'12
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman
12 You and I 4'50
Stevie Wonder
13 How Could I Settle for Less 2'44
Steve Allen / Herbert Distel
14 The Good Life 2'53
Sacha Distel / Jack Reardon
15 Sunshine of My Life 3'12
Stevie Wonder
16 Exactly Like You 3'45
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
17 There Will Come a Time 4'20
Harry Brooks
18 Masquerade 4'08
Leon Russell
19 Livin' 4'28
Credits :
Bass – Paul West (pistas: 11 to 19), Ray Brown (pistas: 1 to 10)
Drums – Frank Severino (pistas: 1 to 10), Jimmy Madison (pistas: 11 to 19)
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli (pistas: 11 to 19), Joe Pass (pistas: 1 to 10)
Piano – Dick Shreve (pistas: 1 to 10), Tom Garvin (pistas: 11 to 19)
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims (pistas: 11 to 19)
Vibraphone, Percussion – Larry Bunker (pistas: 1 to 10)
Vocals – Carmen McRae
CARMEN McRAE - You're Lookin' at Me (A Collection of Nat King Cole Songs) (1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Tracklist :
1 I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm 3'33
Nat King Cole
2 Beautiful Moons Ago 3'10
Nat King Cole / Oscar Moore
3 The Frim Fram Sauce 5'38
Nat King Cole / Redd Evans / Joe Ricardel
4 Come in out of the Rain 3'12
Bob Russell / Carl Sigman
5 How Does It Feel? 4'04
Nat King Cole
6 If I Had You 3'49
Jimmy Campbell / Reginald Connelly / Ted Shapiro
7 I Can't See for Looking 3'29
Nat King Cole
8 Sweet Lorraine 3'34
Clifford R. Burwell / Mitchell Parish
9 You're Lookin' at Me 4'12
Nat King Cole
10 Just You, Just Me 3'57
Jesse Greer / Raymond Klages
Credits :
Bass – John Leftwich
Drums – Donald Bailey
Guitar – John Collins
Piano – Marshall Otwell
Vocals - Carmen McRae
CARMEN McRAE - Dream of Life (1989-1998) Mp320k
This 1998 CD features singer Carmen McRae late in her career, after recording her notable Thelonious Monk tribute but before cutting her final album, a set of Sarah Vaughan-associated songs. Joined by the WDR Big Band and performing arrangements by John Clayton, McRae is in fine form on a wide-ranging program. Among the better selections are "In Walked Bud," "For All We Know," "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and "You're a Weaver of Dreams"; on the latter, McRae accompanies herself on piano. Pianist Eric Gunnison is a major asset in the ensembles and on "Miss Brown to You" both Jon Eardley and a 20-year-old Roy Hargrove have trumpet solos. A rare opportunity to hear McRae accompanied by such a large orchestra. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 In Walked Bud 2'44
Jon Hendricks / Thelonious Monk
2 Sunday 7'03
Chester Conn / Benny Krueger / Ned Miller / Jule Styne
3 For All We Know 3'25
J. Fred Coots / Sam M. Lewis
4 I Have the Feeling I've Been Here Before 5'18
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Roger Kellaway
5 I Didn't Know What Time It Was 3'51
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6 A Song for You 3'26
Leon Russell
7 Miss Brown to You 4'02
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin / Richard A. Whiting
8 Dream of Life 5'04
Luther Henderson / Carmen McRae
9 (What Can I Say) After I Say I'm Sorry? 4'08
Walter Donaldson / Abe Lyman
10 If the Moon Turns Green 3'30
Paul Coates / Bernie Hanighen
11 You're a Weaver of Dreams 2'59
Jack Elliott / Victor Young
Credits :
Arranged By, Conductor – John Clayton, Jr. (pistas: 1 to 10)
Band – WDR Big Band Cologne
Drums – John Von Ohlen
Piano – Eric Gunnison
Saxophone – Harald Rosenstein, Heiner Wiberny, Olivier Peters, Rolf Römer
Trombone – Bernt Laukamp, Dave Horler, Henning Berg, Roy Deuvall
Trumpet – Klaus Osterloh, Rick Kiefer
Vocals – Carmen McRae
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
CARMEN McRAE - Sarah ~ Dedicated To You (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Tracklist :
1 Poor Butterfly 3'58
John Golden / Raymond Hubbell
2 I've Got the World on a String 3'25
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
3 Misty 4'10
Johnny Burke / Erroll Garner
4 Wonder Why 2'46
Nicholas Brodszky / Sammy Cahn
5 Send in the Clowns 3'51
Stephen Sondheim
6 Black Coffee 6'21
Sonny Burke / Paul Francis Webster
7 Tenderly 5'22
Walter Gross / Jack Lawrence
8 The Best Is Yet to Come 2'30
Cy Coleman / Carolyn Leigh
9 I Will Say Goodbye 2'38
Edmond Bacri / Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Michel Legrand
10 The Lamp Is Low 3'02
Peter DeRose / Mitchell Parish / Maurice Ravel / Bert Shefter
11 It's Magic 4'58
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
12 Dedicated to You 6'02
Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin / Hy Zaret
13 I'll Be Seeing You 4'54
Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal
14 Sarah 3'49
Carroll Coates
15 If You Could See Me Now 4'59
Tadd Dameron / Carl Sigman
16 Wave 4'04
Antônio Carlos Jobim
17 Embraceable You 7'41
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
18 Sarah 3'36
Carroll Coates
Credits :
Band – Shirley Horn Trio
Drums – Steve Williams (pistas: 2 to 4, 6 to 8, 10 to 13, 15 to 18)
Electric Bass – Charles Ables (pistas: 2 to 4, 6 to 8, 10 to 13, 15 to 18)
Lead Vocals, Liner Notes – Carmen McRae
Piano – Shirley Horn
CARMEN McRAE - When You're Away (1959-1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Tracklist :
1 When You're Away 3'17
Blossom Dearie / Victor Herbert
2 The More I See You 4'05
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
3 I Only Have Eyes for You 3'51
Al Dubin / Harry Warren
4 Willingly (Melodie Perdue) 2'38
Hubert Giraud / Carl Sigman
5 If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) 2'24
Henry Creamer / James P. Johnson
6 I'll Be Seeing You 3'47
Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal
7 I Concentrate on You 3'35
Cole Porter
8 Ain't Misbehavin' 3'20
Harry Brooks / Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
9 Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye 3'05
Cole Porter
10 When Your Lover Has Gone 3'35
Einar Aaron Swan
11 I'm Glad There Is You 3'57
Sammy Davis, Jr. / Paul Madeira
12 Two Faces in the Dark 3'09
Dorothy Fields / Albert Hague
Credits :
Conductor – Frank Hunter (pistas: 4, 12), Luther Henderson, Jr. (pistas: 1 to 3, 5 to 11)
CARMEN McRAE - The Collected Carmen McRae (1998) FLAC (tracks), lossless
Although collectors and serious fans will have little use for it, RCA's Collected Carmen McRae is a nice overview of her RCA recordings for casual fans, containing 12 tracks including "Dear Ruby," "It's Magic, " "Dedicated to You, " "Misty, " "Tenderly, " "Lover Man," and "My Old Flame."
Tracklist :
1 Dear Ruby (Ruby, My Dear) 5'55
Thelonious Monk / Sally Swisher
2 Still We Dream (Ugly Beauty) 3'23
Mike Ferro / Thelonious Monk
3 It's Magic 4'53
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
4 Dedicated to You 5'58
Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin / Hy Zaret
5 Poor Butterfly 3'55
John Golden / Raymond Hubbell
6 Misty 4'06
Johnny Burke / Erroll Garner
7 Tenderly 5'17
Walter Gross / Jack Lawrence
8 Don't Explain 4'06
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.
9 Lover Man 6'07
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
10 I'm Pulling Through 3'04
Arthur Herzog, Jr. / Irene Wilson
11 My Old Flame 5'35
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston
12 If You Were Mine/It's Like Reaching for the Moon 5'26
Matty Malneck / Johnny Mercer / Jimmy Sherman
Credits :
Vocals – Carmen McRae
ft. Donal Bailey, Eric Gunnison, Al Foster, Shirley Horn Trio (with Charles Ables and Stephen E Williams), Clifford Jordan, John Leftwich, George Mraz, Marshall Otwell and Zoot Sims
CARMEN McRAE - Live at Century Plaza (1975-1991) Mp320k
The inimitable jazz vocalist Carmen McRae toplined this live set at the Los Angeles Century Plaza Hotel's Hong Kong Bar in late December 1968. The concert took place not long after McRae recorded two excellent, underrated LPs for Atlantic Records -- Portrait of Carmen (1967) and Sound of Silence (1968). Atlantic set up and contractually licensed the rights to the Century Plaza show, but inexplicably waited years to do anything with the material, until label executive Nesuhi Ertegun finally produced a truncated version in 1975. That delay may well be attributable to the lack of stylistic cohesion present in McRae's set; over the course of one evening, first backed by a swinging jazz trio and then on solo piano, she segues without abandon between bluesy standards, bossa nova, jaunty uptempo pop, late-'60s Top 40 tunes (also covered on the two aforementioned albums), and much more. The stylistic variegation feels jarring at first, but those willing to adjust to McRae's interest in traversing multiple genres will feel enormously satisfied by the material here. And through it all, McRae puts forth a valiant effort to make each song her own. Not all of the cuts are memorable -- McRae adds little to the Beatles' "Yesterday" and Ron Miller's "For Once in My Life," for instance, and her interpretation of "Satin Doll" is a chore to sit through -- but those are rare exceptions. The rest of the selections are brilliantly conceived and executed and offer a spectacular array of surprises -- as in McRae's magnificent cover of the uptempo "Spread to All," where her crescendoes in the last few refrains grow so ambitious and far reaching that she begins to aurally mirror a brass instrument. Equally wonderful is her delicate interpretation of the wistful ballad "Midnight Sun," with vocal riffs that draw out the song's poetic lyrics in such a smooth and ingenious way that they actually invite comparison to Sinatra's most intuitive readings of standards. McRae's cover of Paul Simon's "Sound of Silence" is also unexpectedly fine -- she parades ferociously through the dense lyrics, backed by a throbbing bassline that recalls some of Randy Newman's inventive studio arrangements for Peggy Lee during the same period. Fans of McRae are strongly encouraged to seek out this recording, but should be advised that it actually exists in two versions: the 1975 edit, which is only available on vinyl and includes 15 tracks, and an extended release, issued in 2005 to Japanese radio DJs as a "demo" compact disc, that couples the original LP tunes with nine "bonus" numbers taped during the 1968 show. Though it is extremely difficult to find, this is far and away the preferable version to obtain, as it not only includes wonderful tunes that Atlantic deemed unworthy of inclusion in 1975, but leaves in some of McRae's patter to attendees, which showcases her unique personality and delightful sense of humor, and her ability to instantly put an audience at ease. Nathan Southern
Tracklist :
1 Elusive Butterfly
2 Midnight Sun
3 For Once In My Life
4 Yesterday
5 Spread To All
6 The Right To Love
7 If You Never Fall In Love With Me
8 I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco
9 Introduction
10 Why Shouldn't I
11 I Thought About You
12 The Sound Of Silence
13 Away, Away, Away
14 Did I Ever Love
15 On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
16 Sweet Pumpkin
17 Introduction
18 No More Blues
19 Miss Otis Regrets
20 Satin Doll
21 Never Let Me Go
22 My Ship
23 Never Will I Marry
24 September In The Rain