COVER -> POWERSSOUND
Keely Smith is back!The veteran singer, who stood at the top ranks of music during her days with Louis Prima, for years was considered one of the best pop/jazz singers in show business. Her many appearances with the superb clown and trumpet player, backed by the efficient Sam Butera and the Witnesses, brings back pleasant memories for many fans worldwide.
It's been a while since Miss Smith was one of the most dominant forces and superb singers of her generation. But a new release from Concord Records, "Swing, Swing, Swing," demonstrates without question that Keely has pipes that show little wear from the years. Her voice always had that velvet sound that seemed so strong and yet so beautiful. She still sounds just the same, putting her individual imprint on every song included on this excellent new album.
Now a fixture in Las Vegas, Keely performs with her patented deadpan face, while the voice will send chills wandering up and down the listener's spine. This is a principled, wise and intelligent singer, who chooses her catalog with care and who seems at the top of her game in this delightful collection.
Backing Miss Smith is Frankie Capp's 17-piece big band, performing sizzling arrangements that concentrate on the wondrous voice of the session leader, while being given occasional opportunities to demonstrate the band's prowess. The band's soloists are some of the best, including tenor Pete Christlieb, trombonist Andy Martin, trumpeter Pete Candolli, saxophonist Joel Peskin, and saxophonist Don Menza. The charts don't mess around, half the time delivering under-three-minute masterpieces.
The World's Magazine: g21.net
Event # 208: HOUR OF THE WOLF
This Pull-down Menu will hyperjump you to all our great features. Try it!
JOIN THE G21 MAILING LIST. Get updates on new features. Take part in our Readership polls, shape the future of The World's Magazine. It's easy! E-mail The World's Magazine with the "Subject" line: SUBSCRIBE.
Want to know more about our community? The Info is here.
LAST WEEK's EDITION
For Deep Background visit the G21-Barnes & Noble Shop
OR get great books at the G21 BARNES & NOBLE SEARCH ENGINE
Discover the MOIA Discussion List
The program consists of 16 tunes, most of them leaning toward the up-tempo side of the ledger. The album opens with a smart, short medley of 'When You're Smiling' and 'The Sheik of Araby.' Other classics on the album include 'Let the Good Times Roll,' a salute to her late husband, 'Oh Louie,' and a fine examination of 'Kansas City.'
'Jump, Jive and Wail' was made popular a couple of years ago by one of the new swing bands. Actually, the original chart was written by Louis Prima. Keely does a nice job with this perennial.
My single quibble with "Swing, Swing, Swing" is the sparse opportunities Keely gets to sing ballads. She's simply delightful with her reading of 'I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me.' For her next album, which I hope comes out sooner than later, more ballads would be appreciated.
Keely Smith deserves to have the spotlight of fame shine brightly once more. A tour would be nice, giving folks outside Las Vegas the opportunity to listen to this wonderful entertainer in a live setting.
Ernestine Rules!
Ernestine Anderson started out in show business working with vibraphonist Johnny Otis' band back in the late 1940s. Until Concord Records signed her around 1975, Anderson's prowess with the ballad wasn't fully known. She could belt out the up-tempo tunes for Otis, whose live shows were geared toward exciting the audiences into a frenzy. I attended several, and remember the advanced pulse rate that Otis and company could stir up.Anderson's new album, "Ballad Essentials" contains outstanding performances lifted off albums recorded between 1979 and 1990. The choices in this 63-minute compilation are excellent and Miss Anderson seemed to be in good form when these sides were laid down.
There's not a 'so what?' song here, as the tunes range from Body and Soul to Time After Time. You can't go wrong with such winners as 'Skylark,' 'Spring Is Here,' and 'I'm Just a Lucky So and So.'
Anderson's lovely tribute to trumpet player Clifford Brown, killed in a car crash while still in his 20s, takes on added bite with Anderson's soulful voice. 'I Remember Clifford' has become a jazz standard, although it's mostly done as an instrumental. It's nice to hear the words.
There are memorable performances by the backup musicians, including George Shearing, Monty Alexander, Gene Harris, Hank Jones and Larry Fuller.
"Ballad Essentials" is a fine showcase for an outstanding singer. Not a household name, Ernestine Anderson deserves her space in the spotlight.
COMING NEXT TIME: New albums from The Hudson Project and Scott Hamilton.
