NANCY HARROW — You Never Know (1963) Vinyl LP | MONO | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Nancy Harrow's You Never Know is as notable for the name above the title as it is the accompanists credited on its sleeve. Boasting contributions from modern icons including pianist John Lewis, altoist Phil Woods, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Connie Kay, this unusually dark, poignant album is as challenging as any vocal jazz session ever issued on a major label, its exquisite melancholy the product of both uncommon sensitivity and consummate skill. Lewis also wrote much of the material, and his nuanced, economical approach yields performances that balance complexity with clarity. The austere settings offer the perfect context for Harrow's imaginative vocals, which exhibit the kind of restraint rare for a stylist with such abundant talent. A great if supremely overlooked LP. Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1.    You Never Know 3:15
 John Lewis / Judy Spencer 
2.    Confessin' The Blues    2:28
 Walter Brown / Jay McShann 
3.    Song For The Dreamer    3:10
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
4.    Autumn    2:32
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
5.    No One Knows Me    2:27
 Bruce Phillpe 
6.    Just For The Thrill    3:43
 Lil Armstrong / Don Raye 
7.    Lover Come Back To Me    2:50
 Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg 
8.    My Last Man    2:51
 Margo Guryan 
9.    No One Knows Just What Love Holds In Store    2:34
 John Lewis / Judy Spencer 
10.    Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do    4:15
 Porter Grainger / Everett Robbins 
11.    Why Are You Blue    2:48
 Gary McFarland 
12.    If I Were Eve    2:44
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods (1, 4, 7, 8)
Arranged By, Conductor – Gary McFarland (tracks: 3, 5, 8, 11)
Baritone Saxophone – Sol Schlinger (3, 5, 9, 11)
Bass – Richard Davis (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12), Tommy Williams (3, 5, 9, 11)
Drums – Connie Kay
Guitar – Jim Hall
Piano – Dick Katz (3, 5, 9, 11), John Lewis (1, 2, 4, 6,8, 10, 12)
Trombone – Willie Dennis (3, 5, 9, 11)
Vocals - Nancy Harrow

NANCY HARROW — Secrets (1991) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Nancy Harrow is in excellent form throughout this continually colorful set. The inventive jazz singer is joined by pianist Dick Katz, bassist Ray Drummond, drummer Ben Riley and occasionally Clark Terry on flugelhorn; C.T. also sings on a humorous "Hit the Road, Jack." The repertoire reaches back to the 1920s/'30s (including "Guess Who's In Town," "Pennies From Heaven" and "Someday Sweetheart") and also features some veteran obscurities and five recent Harrow originals. One of Nancy Harrow's best later recordings, the CD does an excellent job of showing off her talents. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1        Guess Who's In Town    2:58
 James P. Johnson / Andy Razaf
2        If You Were Mine    4:24
 Matty Malneck / Johnny Mercer
3        So Why Am I Surprised?    2:08
 Nancy Harrow
4        Rock It For Me    4:00
 Kay Werner / Sue Werner
5        Pennies From Heaven    4:02
 Johnny Burke / Arthur Johnston
6        Someday Sweetheart    3:25
 Benjamin Franklin Spikes / John Spikes
7        Secrets    4:07
 Nancy Harrow
8        Hit The Road, Jack    4:09
 Percy Mayfield
9        Skeleton Trees    3:22
 Nancy Harrow
10        Fun To Be Fooled    3:04
 Harold Arlen / Ira Gershwin / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
11        Sea Change    3:41
 Nancy Harrow
12        I'm Back    2:04
 Nancy Harrow
13        Havin' Myself A Time    5:18
 Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
14        I'll Follow My Secret Heart    3:04
 Noël Coward
Credits :
Ray Drummond – Bass
Nancy Harrow  – Vocals
Dick Katz –   Arranger, Piano
Clark Terry – Trumpet, Vocals
Ben Riley  – Drums

NANCY HARROW — Wild Women Don't Have The Blues (1961-1989) FLAC (tracks), lossless)

Although singer Nancy Harrow made a strong impression with this debut recording (which has been reissued on CD), she did not lead another record date until 1978 other than a lesser-known effort for Atlantic in 1966. Obviously the years of obscurity were not deserved, for this set is a near-classic. Harrow is heard in her early prime singing such veteran songs as "All Too Soon," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," the seven-minute "Blues for Yesterday," and the title cut (originally done by Ida Cox in the 1920s). A more modern stylist (although influenced by Billie Holiday a little) than the material she performed at the time, Harrow is joined by such top mainstream players as trumpeter Buck Clayton (who provided the arrangements), tenorman Buddy Tate, trombonist Dickie Wells, and pianist Dick Wellstood. Highly recommended, Harrow's debut date has plenty of spirit and enthusiasm. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Take Me Back, Baby  5:14
Count Basie / Buddy Bregman / Jimmy Rushing / Tab Smith2 All Too Soon 5:26
Duke Ellington / Carl Sigman
3 Can't We Be Friends? 5:16
Paul James / Kay Swift
4 On the Sunny Side of the Street 4:57
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
5 Wild Women (Don't Have the Blues) 5:28
Ida Cox
6 I've Got the World on a String 4:29
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
7 I Don't Know What Kind of Blues I Got 3:56
Duke Ellington
8 Blues for Yesterday 7:31
Lester Carr
Credits
Baritone Saxophone – Danny Bank
Bass – Milt Hinton
Clarinet, Alto Saxophone – Tom Gwaltney
Vocals – Nancy Harrow
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Guitar – Kenny Burrell
Piano – Dick Wellstood
Tenor Saxophone – Buddy Tate
Trombone – Dickie Wells
Trumpet, Leader, Arranged By – Buck Clayton