For a relatively small country (population just under 4.5 million), Norway has turned out some outstanding jazz personages, among them two jazz singers of the highest caliber, Karen Krog and the subject of this set, the inestimable Laila Dalseth. The former is probably better known here because of her recordings with Arche Shepp and John Surman. But Dalseth has earned several times over the same level of recognition and credit. This 2-CD set recapitulates her work over a period of almost 25 years. During that time, she has recorded with some of the better European musicians, such as pianist Bengt Hallberg, Per Husby, Philip Catherine, and longtime collaborator Totti Bergh. She also has recorded with significant American jazzers, including Al Cohn, Bucky Pizzarelli, Milt Hinton, and Dave Frishberg. Representative cuts from these sessions and more are on this compilation. Like the great singers, both jazz and pop, she has an innate feel for every syllable she sings. There's no sloppiness, no slurring of words, no resting on the job. The phrasing, the diction, the significant pause, the intelligent use of her sidemen, it's all here. Listen as she holds the final note of "But Beautiful" much longer than usually heard, confirming all that she has done with this tune up to that point. And she can swing, as she demonstrates backed with a big band on "There Will Never Be Another You." Here she is clearly tuned into Terje Venaas' bass, which she uses as a rhythmic guidepost. "Stairway to the Stars," with just Irish guitarist Louis Stewart helping her, is a virtuoso performance. Three cuts present from her 1986 album with Al Cohn, "You've Changed," "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me," and "Little Man You've Had a Busy Day," are among the best the compilation has to offer. By the time 1999 arrives, her voice continues to be strong and vibrant as she amply demonstrates with a small group on an up-tempo "Easy to Love," with an excellent solo by Jon Gordon. For devotees of vocal jazz, this set is an absolute must. Dave Nathan
Tracklist 1 :
1 Just Friends 2:44
John Klenner / Sam M. Lewis
2 More Than You Know 5:23
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans
3 If You Were Mine 4:00
Matty Malneck / Johnny Mercer
4 But Beautiful 4:13
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
5 There'll Never Be Another You 3:23
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
6 Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye 4:43
Cole Porter
7 Embraceable You 5:17
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
8 Stairway to the Stars 4:42
Matty Malneck / Mitchell Parish / Frank Signorelli
9 Nature Boy 4:26
Eden Ahbez
10 You've Changed 6:30
Bill Carey / Carl Fischer
11 Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me 3:52
Duke Ellington / Bob Russell
12 Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered 5:29
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
13 Little Man You've Had a Busy Day 7:27
Al Hoffman / Maurice Sigler / Mabel Wayne
14 I Carry Your Picture 4:49
Frode Thingnæs
Tracklist 2 :
1 In a Sentimental Mood 4:51
Duke Ellington / Manny Kurtz / Irving Mills
2 Out of Nowhere 4:15
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman
3 Sophisticated Lady 6:25
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish
4 Miss Brown to You 4:37
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin / Richard A. Whiting
5 He Was Too Good to Me 4:40
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6 Tea for Two 3:44
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
7 I Loves You, Porgy 2:09
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
8 Until It's Time for You to Go 7:18
Buffy Sainte-Marie
9 Born to Be Blue 5:38
Mel Tormé / Robert Wells
10 'Tis Autumn 4:45
Henry Nemo
11 A Song for You 3:57
Leon Russell
12 My Love 4:45
Duke Ellington
13 Easy to Love 3:08
Cole Porter
14 Unless It's You 4:44
Morgan Ames / Johnny Mandel
