Thelma Gracen's lone EmArcy date boasts a warm, nocturnal atmosphere that belies the precision and complexity of its performances. Guitarist Barney Kessel, tenorist Georgie Auld, and pianist Lou Levy are all in top form, delivering graceful, almost effortless support that encircles Gracen's vocals like a kind of halo effect. Her cool, sophisticated interpretations of chestnuts like "I'll Remember April" and "Night and Day" immediately bring to mind the likes of Anita O'Day and Chris Connor, but Gracen possesses a style and intelligence all her own -- it's a shame her discography is so slim. web
Tracklist
1 I'll Remember April 2:50
Patricia Johnston / Gene Paul / Don Raye
2 Night and Day 3:01
Cole Porter
3 I'll Never Be the Same 4:18
Gus Kahn / Matty Malneck / Frank Signorelli
4 Tea for Two 2:36
Irving Caesar / Vincent Youmans
5 I'll Get By 3:41
Fred E. Ahlert / Roy Turk
6 Out of Nowhere 2:36
John W. Green / Edward Heyman
7 Solitude 3:56
Eddie DeLange / Duke Ellington
8 Just You Just Me 1:48
Jesse Greer / Raymond Klages
9 I'm Yours 4:14
John W. Green / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
10 People Will Say We're in Love 2:46
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
11 More Than You Know 3:49
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans
12 Let There Be Love 2:01
Ian Murray Seafield Grant / Lionel Rand
Credits:
Quen Anderson (tb),
Georgie Auld (ts),
Lou Levy (p),
Barney Kessel (g),
Joe Comfort (b),
Sid Bulkin (ds),
Thelma Gracen (vo).
Recorded in Hollywood, CA on November 10, 1955.
