Nancy Wilson's Brilliance

by Bob Powers

G21 Music Writer

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Bob Powers

MARIETTA, OH, USA - For 40 years, a slender little lady from Chillicothe, Ohio has built a huge following with her distinctive vocal styling. Once you’ve heard Nancy Wilson sing, it’s a guarantee that you’ll recognize her unique way of warbling. There’s no one quite like her.

Capitol Records, her recording home for long and distinguished career, has vaults of her music. The company, now a part of the behemoth EMI, has assembled a handsome package of Wilson’s best performances into a gorgeous package that should delight anyone who has followed her career.

“The Essence of Nancy Wilson: Four Decades of Music” contains all her charted hit songs, plus a variety of material chosen with care and finesse. You’ll hear one of her first hits, the stunning “Save Your Love for Me,” which she recorded with the Cannonball Adderley group. It sounds just as powerful and lush today as it did when released in 1959. An album included that tune, and soon had the entire music world’s rapt attention.

The new package, a stunning box set containing four CDs with more than 80 tracks concentrating on the voice. The first CD, “Spanning the Decades,” contains 18 of her hits and rare singles. All are making their CD debut in the U.S. Favorites on this disc include the aforementioned “Save Your Love for Me,” along with “My Foolish Heart” and “As Time Goes By.”

The second disc, “From the Vaults,” contains 23 tracks being released for the first time, including 14 tracks from her performances in Las Vegas. Wilson’s signature is her combination of spreading out a phrase, then ripping it off at the end in her perfect diction. She knows what she’s doing, and it works wonderfully well on these songs, which include such perennials as “Hello, Young Lovers,” “Small World,” “I Can’t Get Started,” “The Man That Got Away” and “I Concentrate on You.”

Disc Three, “Nancy’s Choice,” contains songs she personally selected for the box set, including “Passion Flower” and “Prelude to a Kiss.” The final CD, “Hidden Gems,” consists of songs released for the first time in the U.S. on CD. It includes one of her most dynamic performances, which causes chills to race down a listener’s spine, particularly on her wonderful version of “Guess Who I Saw Today.”

The set includes a brief but fact-filled appreciation written by Billy Vera, along with comments by others with whom she has worked and friends and fans from the music world.

The set contains not only excellent music, but also dozens of excellent photos, mostly in color, which prove that Miss Nancy continues to be one of the most beautiful singers of all time.

The only criticism that occurs to this longtime listener is that Miss Nancy hasn’t always been served well by. There are a number (precious few, thank goodness) of songs in the package that could be considered throw-aways. Her performance can lift a mediocre song into something that seems special. That occurs in scattered incidences through “The Essence,” but thankfully there’s a stack of lovely songs performed in the inimitable style of Nancy Wilson. The payoff is a big one and this prize package seems to be a worthy salute to one of the best we’ve had over the past four decades.

Thanks, Nancy. You’ve done your native state of Ohio proud, indeed.

MJQ Salutes Basie

MJQ Salutes Basie The brilliance of the Modern Jazz Quartet was never better displayed than on “Topsy: This One’s for Basie” (Pablo Records). The CD being reissued shows the group rather late in its existence, having been recorded in 1985. The new CD has been remastered and the sound is exceptional.

The late Milt Jackson shows his taste and talent, especially on a solo version of “Nature Boy,” the mysterious tune written by Eden Ahbez and first recorded by Nat Cole. Jackson’s version on the vibes presents the melody in a shimmering cascade of sound. It’s beautiful and at times almost breathtaking.

The miracle of the MJQ resulted with the assembly of four musicians who perfectly complimented each other. John Lewis’s piano work approached the classical sound at times, while underneath you can always hear the solid history of jazz. Percy Heath could play the upright bass with a skill that’s nearly astonishing. Connie Kay always provided a precise but swinging beat. The combination could be oh so precise on one song, yet swing with a delicious beat on another track.

If you don’t own anything by the MJQ, this would be a good place to start.

Woody Herman Remembered

I had the good fortune to attend several concerts over a couple of decades by Woody Herman and one of his Thundering Herds. The red-headed clarinetist jumped head first into the then new-fangled music called be-bop. The result usually was excitement that advanced one’s blood pressure.

A taste of such great stuff can be found in a reissue from Fantasy Records. “King Cobra” contains performances recorded over three days in January of 1975.

The title tune is a six-minute avalanche that will blow the dust out of your ears, assuming that you turn up the volume enough. “Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing” comes next, followed by Chick Corea’s always interesting “Spain.”

Herman always employed kids just out of college and their enthusiasm and prowess can be heard clearly in this brief (37 minutes) but entertaining CD.

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