50 Singing Ladies by Cabu

You are about to rediscover a multitude of voices, warm and sensual, ranging from “cool” tones to breathy ones (June Christy, Chris Connor, Helen Merrill, Jeri Southern…), those that whisper (Blossom Dearie) or swing and vocalize like Annie Ross. Also paying tribute in this collection are Julie London, notably absent from the excellent Jazz Dictionary, and Nan Wynn who doubled for Rita Hayworth in Hollywood.

Almost all of these forgotten singers are here, from Ernestine Anderson accompanying Gigy Gryce to Ivie Anderson with Duke Ellington's orchestra, Helen Humes, with that of Count Basie, Maxine Sullivan with her husband's sextet, John Kirby, delivering a poignant "The Heart You Stole from Me ” alongside the “historical” and “great” names that immediately come to mind when discussing vocalists: Sarah, Ella, Billie, Peggy, Anita, Dinah. A special mention goes to Nina Simone with her contralto voice in a moving “He Needs Me ” from 1957, while during the same period, Betty Carter launches an exhilarating and unparalleled “Let’s Fall in Love”.