ANNIE ROSS — Sings A Handful Of Songs (1963-1989) FLAC (tracks) 24-44.1Hz

By 1963, Annie Ross had permanently moved back to England and had started working more as an actress than as a singer. This interesting set (reissued by DCC as an audiophile CD) features Ross backed by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Johnnie Spence. The obvious high point is one of the darkest and scariest versions of "Love For Sale" ever recorded; Ross' desperate-sounding rendition is haunting. Otherwise, she performs a variety of standards in lightly swinging fashion, not scatting or using vocalese but instead working on interpreting the lyrics. Other highlights include "All of You," "Nature Boy," "Like Someone in Love" and "Limehouse Blues." This worthy set was also put out on CD by the Fresh Sound label. Scott Yanow
Tracklist
 1. A Handful Of Songs 2:31
 Lionel Bart / Peter Maurice
2. All Of You 2:41
 Cole Porter
3. Fly Me To The Moon 3:09
 Bart Howard / Almanac Singers
4. Nature Boy 2:40
 Eden Ahbez
5. What's New? 4:08
 Johnny Burke / Bob Haggart
6. Love For Sale 4:20
 Cole Porter
7. A Lot Of Livin' To Do 4:20
 Lee Adams / Charles Strouse
8. Let Me Love You 2:05
 Bart Howard
9. All Things You Are 2:55
 Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
10. I'm Gonna Go Fishin' 3:12
 Duke Ellington / Peggy Lee
11. Like Someone In Love 3:29
 Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
12. Limehouse Blues 2:46
 Philip Braham / Douglas Furber
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Johnnie Spence
Vocals – Annie Ross

BARBARA LONG — Soul : The Voice Of Barbara Long (1961-1993) RM | Mono | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It is very easy to call this the definitive Barbara Long album (or her best) because it is the only one she ever made. The obscure singer had a swinging style and a soft voice whose pitch sometimes wandered a little. She definitely had an adventurous spirit, starting the date with a very uptempo "Trolley Song" and stretching herself on some of the dozen songs. This Savoy reissue from the Japanese Denon label features Long with a fine backup group that includes trumpeter Billy Howell (who has an active role), pianist Nat Phipps, bassist George Tucker, drummer Al Harewood, and (on two songs) the great tenor Booker Ervin. This sincere effort is worth a few spins. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Trolley Song 2:20
Ralph Blane / Hugh Martin
2 Gee Baby 3:10
Don Redman / Andy Razaf
3 Largo To Oscar 3:32
N. Phipps
4 When You Are Smiling 3:06
Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington
5 Call Me Darling 2:23
Mark Fisher / Joe Goodwin / Larry Shay
6 Where Is Lonesome 3:17
N. Phipps
7 Green Dolphin Street 3:10
Bronislau Kaper / Ned Washington
8 You Don't Know What Love Is 4:00
Andy Razaf / Don Redman
9 Serenade 1:45
N. Phipps
10 Squeeze Me 3:14
Thomas "Fats" Waller / Clarence Williams
11 Swan Lake 2:50
Tchaikovsky
12 It's Heaven 4:03
N. Phipps
Credits:
Arranged By, Trumpet – Billy Howell
Bass – George Tucker
Drums – Al Harewood
Piano – Nat Phipps
Tenor Saxophone – Booker Ervin
Vocals – Barbara Long

PEARL BAILEY — St. Louis Blues (1958) Vinyl, LP | FLAC (tracks) 24-192Hz

Tracklist
A1        St. Louis Blues 2:50
Written-By – W. C. Handy
A2        Hesitatin' Blues 3:32
Written-By – W. C. Handy
A3        Shine Like A Morning Star 2:56
Written-By – W. C. Handy
A4        Aunt Hager's Blues 2:55
Written-By – Brymn, Handy
A5        I'll Turn Back No More 2:01
Written-By – W. C. Handy
A6        Ole Miss 2:21
Written-By – W. C. Handy
B1        Long Gone 2:00
Written-By – Smith, Handy
B2        Friendless Blues 3:35
Written-By – Gilbert, W. C. Handy
B3        Careless Love 2:40
Written-By – Koenig, Williams, Handy
B4        Way Down South Where The Blues Began 2:45
Written-By – W. C. Handy
B5        I've Heard Of A City Called Heaven 1:45
Written-By – W. C. Handy
B6        Beale Street Blues 2:51
Written-By – W. C. Handy
Credits:
Orchestra Conducted – Don Redman
Vocals – Pearl Bailey

HONI GORDON — Honi Gordon Sings (1962-1991) RM | Original Jazz Classics Limited Edition Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Honi Gordon's obscurity (this was her only recording as a solo singer) is a mystery for she displays a great deal of talent on this date. Her father George Gordon wrote some of the tricky lyrics (which are phrased like a horn) and Honi (who is given stimulating support by pianist Jaki Byard, Ken McIntyre on flute and alto, guitarist Wally Richardson, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Ed Shaughnessy) is up to the job. Her version of Charles Mingus's "Strollin'" is definitive, she finds something new to say on "Ill Wind" and really digs into the originals. This is bop-based jazz singing at its best. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Strollin' 4:30
Honi Gordon / Charles Mingus
2     Ill Wind 2:30
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
3     My Kokomo 5:15
George Gordon
4     Why Try to Change Me Now? 4:55
Cy Coleman / Joseph McCarthy
5     Cupid 3:20
Honi Gordon
6     Walkin' (Out the Door) 3:05
Mary Lou Williams
7     Why 3:20
Consuela Moorehead
8     Love Affair 3:40
Honi Gordon
9     Lament of the Lonely 2:43
Esmond Edwards
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Flute  – Ken McIntyre
Bass – George Duvivier
Drums – Eddie Shaughnessy
Guitar – Wally Richardson
Piano – Jaki Byard
Vocals – Honi Gordon

ANN RICHARDS — Ann, Man! (1961-2002) Collectables Jazz Classics Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Ann Richards, an excellent singer who was married to Stan Kenton for a few years, only recorded a few solo albums before slipping away into obscurity. Ann, Man! is her most intimate date, a quartet set with trumpeter Jack Sheldon, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Red Callender, and drummer Larry Bunker. Four of the songs (including "There's a Lull in My Life" and "You Go to My Head") are duets with Kessel. Richards shows off her versatility and sensitivity on this well-rounded set, swinging lightly and singing with restrained emotions. It is a pity that she did not have a prosperous career, for the talent was definitely there. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1        Yes Sir That's My Baby 3:22
Written-By – Gus Kahn, Walter Donaldson
2        An Occasional Man 2:56
Written-By – Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane
3        There's A Lull In My Life 3:52
Written-By – Harry Revel, Mack Gordon
4        The Masquerade Is Over 2:20
Written-By – Allie Wrubel, Herb Magidson
5        You Go To My Head
Written-By – Haven Gillespie, Fred Coots
6        Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby 2:40
Written-By – Billy Austin, Louis Jordan
7        And That's All 2:54
Written-By – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
8        Bewitched 4:03
Written-By – Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
9        Evil Gal Blues 4:10
Written-By – Leonard Feather
10        Love Is A Word For The Blues 1:59
Written-By – Dick Hyman, Leonard Feather, Milt Raskin
11        How Do I Look In Blue 2:56
Written-By – Gene Roland, Johnny Richards
12        I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night 3:02
Written-By – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
Credits:
Bass – Red Callender
Drums – Larry Bunker
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Trumpet – Jack Sheldon
Vocals – Ann Richards