ETTA JONES | HOUSTON PERSON — Don't Misunderstand (2007) WV (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Blue Monk 8:40
Composed By – Thelonious Monk
2    Don't Misunderstand 3:51
Composed By – Gordon Parks
3    Exactly Like You 5:25
Lyrics By – Dorothy Fields
Music By – Jimmy McHugh
4    Ain't Misbehavin' 4:18
Lyrics By – Andy Razaf
Music By – Fats Waller, Harry Brooks
5    I Saw Stars 4:02
Composed By – Al Goodhart, Al Hoffman, Maurice Sigler
6    I'm Glad There Is You 7:32
Composed By – Jimmy Dorsey, Paul Madeira Mertz
7    Bluesology 10:18
Composed By – Milt Jackson
8    Are You Real 9:21
Composed By – Benny Golson
Credits :
Drums – Frankie Jones
Organ – Sonny Phillips
Tenor Saxophone, Producer [CD Produced By] – Houston Person
Vocals – Etta Jones (tracks: 2 to 5)

SHEILA JORDAN — Jazz Child (1999) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Making the supposition that she's an acquired taste, those who enjoy Jordan's unique singing will be thrilled with this release. She's reunited with the resourceful pianist Steve Kuhn who she made exceptional recordings with on ECM (Last Year's Waltz and Playground.) Her breathy, hither-come-yon, soulful voice, with an unmistakable Native American inflection and the quick witted, harmonic bebop foundation of her early days continues to earmark Jordan as one of the most important jazz singers of our time. Three cuts feature the artist with fellow vocalist Theo Bleckmann, and their voices mesh well together, especially on the kitschy, fun loving "Oh Henry." Bleckmann sounds bluesy and like a less histrionic Kurt Elling. The rest of the CD finds Jordan's material all over the map, from a vocal version of Don Cherry's "Art Deco," a revision replete with Indian scat of Steve Kuhn's "The Zoo," a take on Abbey Lincoln's "Bird Alone," and Cheryl Pyle's lyrics to Tom Harrell's "Buffalo Wings." All are outstanding examples of Jordan's uncanny ability to make a song all her own. Ballads like "My Ship," "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress," and "Everything Happens to Me" are further proof of her total command and love for the American popular song tradition. Precious music making can be difficult to grasp, much less embrace, especially from a populist standpoint. Getting next to Jordan's artistry should not be too difficult for the open minded. For those of you who are fans, you'll treasure this as one of her best efforts yet and a vocal jazz highlight of the year. Others can discover Jordan at the peak of her powers and revel in the deep blue, mysterious tones she conjures like no one else. Michael G. Nastos   
Tracklist :
1 Jazz Child 0:33
Sheila Jordan
2 The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress 5:22
Jimmy Webb
3 Reel Time 3:13
Chris Lee
4 Art Deco 6:16
Don Cherry / Sheila Jordan
5 The Zoo 4:17
Steve Kuhn
6 My Ship 4:03
Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill
7 Oh Henry 3:17
Gil Fuller / Ernie Henry
8 Bird Alone 4:43
Abbey Lincoln
9 Medley: Ballad for Miles/My Funny Valentine 9:27
Lorenz Hart / Sheila Jordan / Richard Rodgers
10 Buffalo Wings 6:21
Tom Harrell / Sheila Jordan / Cheryl Pyle
11 Everything Happens to Me 4:37
Tom Adair / Matt Dennis
12 Medley: Everytime We Say Goodbye/For All We Know 5:38
Sam M. Lewis / Cole Porter
13 Jazz Child (Reprise) 0:36
Sheila Jordan
Credits :
Double Bass – Dave Finck
Drums – Billy Drummond
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Vocals – Sheila Jordan, Theo Bleckmann (tracks: 3, 7, 12)

CAROL SLOANE - Whisper Sweet (2003) FLAC (tracks), lossless

While young female singers tend to catch the eyes and ears of the general public, seasoned jazz musicians, critics, and fans are the ones to appreciate a veteran vocalist like Carol Sloane. With over a half century of professional singing experience, Sloane's voice is still magic as she captures the essence of each of the 11 ballads on this High Note CD. Guitarist Paul Bollenback is the major soloist backing her warm interpretation of the bittersweet "Here's That Rainy Day." Paul West's dancing bass propels her through a magical but playful take of "The Lady's in Love With You." Her bluesy, drawn-out rendition of "This Time the Dream's on Me" (a song usually played at a brisk tempo) is backed by pianist Norman Simmons, one of the late Joe Williams' favorite accompanists. But she pulls out all the stops with her unaccompanied introduction to an emotional "My One and Only Love." She also explores a few older gems, including a polished take of Eubie Blake's "Memories of You" and a surprising bossa nova arrangement of stride master James P. Johnson's forgotten chestnut "Whisper Sweet." Tenor saxophonist Houston Person, who frequently played with the late Etta Jones, is added on several tracks, including a delightful "The Night We Called It a Day." Carol Sloane's magnificent performances throughout this disc will easily stand the test of time Ken Dryden   
Tracklist :
1 Here's That Rainy Day 5:18
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
2 Memories of You 5:25
Eubie Blake / Andy Razaf
3 The Lady's in Love With You 4:45
Burton Lane / Frank Loesser
4 It's Easy to Remember 5:52
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
5 Where or When 5:28
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6 More Than You Know 4:43
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans
7 This Time the Dream's on Me 4:14
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
8 My One and Only Love 5:17
Robert Mellin / Guy Wood
9 Whisper Sweet 5:02
J.P. Johnson
10 The Night We Called It a Day 7:12
Tom Adair / Matt Dennis
11 You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me 5:33
Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal / Peter Norman
Credits :
Norman Simmons,  Piano
Carol Sloane,  Vocals
Grady Tate,  Drums
Paul E. West,  Bass
Houston Person,  Guest Artist, Sax (Tenor)
Paul Bollenback,  Guitar