TERI THORNTON - Devil May Care (1961-1999) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

This is the first (of three) long out of print recordings by Teri Thornton, finally available to the general public. It would not be a stretch to say she is perhaps the most talented, distinctive, clean, out-of-sight singer listeners have never heard....until now. Thornton's powerful, almost chilling voice compares favorably to the pristine tones and vibrato of Sarah Vaughan, the blues sassiness of Dinah Washington, and some of the more soulful refrains of Abbey Lincoln. Simply put, you have to hear her once to believe her. Whether on doleful ballads or raucous swingers, Thornton is totally confident and in control -- of her emotions and yours. From the best version of the Bob Dorough-written title track you are likely to hear, to the regretful ballad "My Old Flame" or the ultimate heart-melter "Left Alone," to an interesting arrangement on a pleading "What's Your Story, Morning Glory?," Thornton charges through the bar lines. Check her forcefulness on "Dancing in the Dark" and "I Feel a Song Coming On." Sometimes she purposefully staggers behind measures to grand effect. Every track is a showstopper, thanks to her uniquely soulful, drama-laden approach. Potent, unobtrusive horn charts feature legends like trumpeter Clark Terry, trombonist Britt Woodman, and saxophonists Earle Warren and Seldon Powell. The rhythm section of guitarist Freddie Green (half the tracks, Sam Herman on the others), pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Jimmy Cobb can do no wrong. Arranger par excellence Norman Simmons provided the perfect charts. This is an important document of a truly great jazz singer, and is essential in the collection of every serious aficionado. The only one regret is that it can't be given several handfuls of. by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist:
1 Lullaby of the Leaves 2:48
Bernice Petkere / Joe Young 
2 Devil May Care 2:47
Bob Dorough 
3 Detour Ahead 3:10
Lou Carter / Herb Ellis / John Freigo / Johnny Frigo 
4 The Song Is You 2:33
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern 
5 My Old Flame 3:29
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston 
6 What's Your Story, Morning Glory? 3:47
Jack Lawrence / Paul Francis Webster / Mary Lou Williams 
7 Dancing in the Dark 2:31
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz 
8 Left Alone 3:27
Billie Holiday / Mal Waldron 
9 Blue Champagne 3:11
Jim Eaton / Frank Ryerson / Grady Watts 
10 I Feel a Song Coming On 2:42
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh / George Oppenheimer 
11 What's New? 4:11
Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart 
12 Blue Skies 2:33
Irving Berlin 
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Earl Warren
Arranged By, Conductor – Norman Simmons
Bass – Sam Jones
Drums – Jimmy Cobb
Guitar – Freddie Green, Sam Herman
Piano – Wynton Kelly
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Tenor Saxophone – Seldon Powell
Trombone – Britt Woodman
Trumpet – Clark Terry
Vocals – Teri Thornton

TERI THORNTON - I'll Be Easy To FInd (1999) WV (image+.cue), lossless

After a nearly 40-year hiatus, Teri Thornton is back to swing and sing her way into your heart. In comparison to her old Riverside recordings, it seems she's lost nothing vocally, her angelic clarity and soulful vibrato are intact, and her enthusiasm is still spiking depth charts. She's backed by her own piano on four cuts, and the able Ray Chew on the others, save Norman Simmons for the sole live-in-concert finale (she and Simmons are credited) with bassist Lonnie Plaxico, alto sax and flute master Jerome Richardson, trombonist Dave Bargeron, multi-instrumentalist Howard Johnson, and drummer J.T. Lewis. At her best on ballads, blues, and upbeat swingers, Thornton proves she really can do it all. Her rippling Ella-cum-Sarah chords are unfettered on a rousing live "Salty Mama" with Grady Tate (drums) and Michael Bowie (bass). The funky blues is all right with Thornton on "Feels Good." A showstopper, "Knee Deep in the Blues," and the faded in and out bossa "Wishing Well" are from her pen. The most unusual arrangement by producer Suzi Reynolds of "Nature Boy" has no discernible time signature. It's kinetic but seems to float, Plaxico punctuating but never seeming to ever hit one. Richardson's great flute work and Bargeron and Johnson's background horns play inquisitive mind games, quite a challenging listen. She sings the ballads "Somewhere in the Night," "Where Are You Running?," and the title cut immaculately -- not kitten soft but forcefully pronounced. She's boppin' on "It Ain't Necessarily So" and adapts "The Lord's Prayer" in a modal vein, Chew's piano chordally searching for deliverance, and she really shines instrumentally on "I'll Be Seeing You" in a fashion that rivals Shirley Horn. There is a definitive song, "I Believe in You," with a great lyric that seems to sum up the influence of a certain someone who has helped Thornton through her battles with cancer and the constant yin-yang of raising a family for these past four decades. Teri Thornton is emphatically back with this complete view of an artist, finally giving us a taste of what we've suspected lo these many years. by Michael G. Nastos 
Tracklist

1      Somewhere in the Night  3:48 

May, Raskin 

2 I Believe in You 2:48 

Loesser 

3 It Ain't Necessarily So  3:17 

Gershwin, Gershwin 

4 The Lord's Prayer  5:00 

Thornton 

5 Knee Deep in the Blues  7:11 

Thornton 

6 I'll Be Easy to Find 4:35 

Howard 

7 Nature Boy 4:51 

Ahbez 

8 Wishing Well  5:14 

Thornton 

9 Where Are You Running?  2:50 

Harris 

10 Feels Good  3:19 

Thornton 

11 I'll Be Seeing You  5:35 

Fain, Kahal 

12 Salty Mama  3:34

Thornton 

 Credits 

Bass – Lonnie Plaxico (tracks: 1-11), Michael Bowie (tracks: 12) 

Cornet, Tuba, Contrabass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone – Howard Johnson (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7-9) 

Drum – Grady Tate (tracks: 12), J.T. Lewis (tracks: 1-11) 

Flute, Bass Flute, Alto Saxophone – Jerome Richardson (tracks: 1, 4, 7-9) 

Piano – Norman Simmons (tracks: 12), Ray Chew (tracks: 1-6, 8, 9), Teri Thornton (tracks: 7, 10, 11) 

Trombone – Dave Bargeron (tracks: 1, 7-9) 

Vocals – Teri Thornton