No More Blues
Artist: Susannah McCorkle

Susannah McCorkle first emerged in 1976 as one of the top interpreters of lyrics to mature since the 1950s. Since then she has continued to grow as an expressive singer who brings out hidden beauty in the songs she sings. For her Concord debut, McCorkle is joined by Ken Peplowski (on clarinet and tenor), either Emily Remler or Bucky Pizzarelli... Read More

The Story Hour
Artist: Sally Mayes

Featuring selections from Sally Mayes' one-woman show of the same title, The Story Hour is a set of musical narratives offering snapshots of everyday life and all the trials, tribulations, joys, and love it can bring. Sometimes, the songs' stories can get a little sentimental or melodramatic, but then again, the popular imagination rarely... Read More

Fathom This: A Retrospective
Artist: Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra

The members of the Nuclear Whales Saxophone Orchestra are not unaware of the comic possibilities of a band that plays nothing but saxophones, and all seven varieties, from the 18-inch sopranino to the six-foot, eight-inch contrabass. They exploit those possibilities by filling their repertoire with fruity oldies like "Alabamy Bound," "Sweet... Read More

Band That Swings
Artist: Ernie Krivda

Tenor saxophonist Ernie Krivda has been a favorite of jazz audiences in his native Cleveland, Ohio for some time, but wider recognition has unjustly eluded him. His fourth CD for Koch (and second with the Fat Tuesday Big Band) is a masterpiece of swing with a nice mix of choice arrangements and plenty of hot solos. A very refreshing take of "'S... Read More

Man with a Horn
Artist: Eric Alexander

Eric Alexander can playthe tenor saxophone. Armed with love for the masters and the ability to take their sonic images into his own realm, he is reaching the goal of attaining a personal sound. His tone, ideas and embellishments lie string straight ahead and swinging. His capacity for bluesy, soulful outbursts or fluttery Coltrane-like... Read More

Moonlighting
Artist: Gary LeMel

The title of this album means what it says. A top executive with Warner Bros. Movies, Gary LeMel is Moonlighting with this album of vocals, many associated with LeMel's favorite singer, the talented Bobby Darin. This undertaking represents a return to the performing venue for LeMel who, at the age of 17, toured with Anita O'Day before turning to... Read More

The Best of Nancy Wilson: The Jazz and Blues Sessions
Artist: Nancy Wilson

Nancy Wilson's not the first name in bluesy jazz (check out Dinah Washington and Joe Williams for that), but she usually can enliven the form with her sophisticated and sultry style. That's made clear on her rendition of "Stormy Monday Blues," where she eschews blues clichés in favor of a husky airiness, at once referencing a lowdown mood and... Read More

The Songs Sinatra Sang
Artist: Carol Sloane

Recorded two years before Frank Sinatra's death, Carol Sloane's tribute set features the talented veteran singer interpreting 13 songs that were associated with Sinatra. On five selections, the vocalist is assisted by pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Sean Smith, drummer Ron Vincent and Frank Wess on tenor and flute. "You Make Me Feel So Young" is a... Read More

The Songs Carmen Sang
Artist: Carol Sloane

Carol Sloane pays tribute to the recently deceased Carmen McRae (a close personal associate) on this excellent set. Although she considered McRae an influence, Sloane actually sounds much closer to Ella Fitzgerald on many of the numbers and makes no attempt to imitate her friend. Joined by pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Michael Moore, drummer Ron... Read More

From Broadway to Bebop
Artist: Susannah McCorkle

Susannah McCorkle covers a lot of ground during this 1994 CD on which she is joined by a four-horn octet under the musical direction of pianist Allen Farnham. Whether it be "Guys And Dolls," "My Buddy," "Moody's Mood," Don Sebesky's recent "I Remember Bill" (for Bill Evans) or even "Don't Fence Me In," McCorkle brings an intelligent joy to the... Read More

Any Old Time
Artist: Carmen McRae

This little-known date, recorded for the Japanese Denon label, features singer Carmen McRae with her regular quartet of the time (pianist Eric Gunnison, bassist Scott Colley, drummer Mark Pulice and guitarist John Collins) and guest tenor Clifford Jordan. McRae is heard in prime form performing a variety of top standards, including "Tulip or... Read More

Thanks for the Memory: The Songs of Leo Robin
Artist: Susannah McCorkle

After the Inner City label died, the talented singer Susannah McCorkle recorded three albums for Pausa before it too became defunct; however, all of those early records have been reissued on CD. For her tribute to lyricist Leo Robin (her first Pausa project), McCorkle beautifully interprets his lyrics to 13 songs, most of which were originally... Read More

Sabia
Artist: Susannah McCorkle

Susannah McCorkle speaks Italian, Spanish, German and Portuguese in addition to English; she used to work as an interpreter before she devoted herself to singing. On her second Concord CD, McCorkle sings 10 Brazilian songs plus "Estate," switching between English, Portuguese and Italian. There is no communication problem as far as conveying her... Read More

Ultimate Joe Williams
Artist: Joe Williams

Verve's Ultimate series unveils a new concept in the hackneyed concept of greatest-hits collections: instead of compilation producers, these albums feature tracks selected by figures who either worked with or were influenced by the artists themselves. The results are much more than your average best-of compilations; they're closer to treatises... Read More