Killer female vocal recordings-show me the light..
Radka Toneff and Steve Dobrogoz "Fairytales". The first track "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" is nothing short of amazing. She has an amazing voice with lots of emotions. LP preferred but CD still good. If you have problems finding the album, I believe that this song is featured in one of the Burmester CD samplers. |
Of the female jazz vocalists you have mentioned, I would recomend the following recordings: Since you find Lady Day's voice during her Verve years too raspy, I would recommend her Columbia recordings. These came in two great LP sets: Billie Holiday "The Golden Years" Vols. I and II. Another great recording from her 1944-50 period is The Billie Holiday Story, originally released on Decca, re-released on MCA. On these three sets you will hear the songs that have become identified with her when Billie was in her prime. Ella never sounded so relaxed and unselfconscious as when she recorded with Armstrong. All of the recordings they made for Norman Granz's Verve in '56 and '57 are absolutely wonderful. Granz also produced a fine recording of Ella and the Duke Ellington Orchestra in '56 and '57 called Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Songbook Vol. I, with strong accompaniment from Hodges, Kessel, Webster, Nance, Anderson and the rest of the Orchestra. You will also want to hear Ella's classic If Dreams Come True that she recorded with Chic Webb in '37 and Ella Sings Gershwin, recorded on Decca DL74451. Sarah Vaughan made several memorable recordings. Let me suggest two: Sarah Vaughan, recorded on EmArcy in '55 with Clifford Brown and others; and, How Long Has This Been Going On? w/Peterson, Pass, Brown and Bellson recorded in '78 for Granz's Pablo. Betty Carter's recording on Bet-Car entitled Betty Carter is deserving of its spot on Lyons' best 100 jazz recordings. I agree with Kana that Ernestine Anderson's Live From Concord to London is one of her best recordings. But I prefer Never Make Your Move Too Soon on Concord, 1981. It's got it all: Anderson in top form, tasteful selections, great accompaniment from Alexander, Brown and Gant, original arrangements that swing. |
With all due respect I believe your original premise is misguided. Billie Holiday's best recorded performances are all pre-1945 (the same with Louis Armstrong and a good deal of Duke Ellington) and they are masterpieces of 20th century music. The fact that they are not SOTA recordings is besides the point. You're letting your audiophile tendencies control your listening preferences and I think that's wrong. Please don't take offence, it's just my opinion. With that said, check out Ella Fitzgerald's "Clap Hands". A top flight performance and a very fine recording. |
