Patricia Abbott (pattinase): Anita O' Day: Best jazz singer ever?

Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Anita O' Day: Best jazz singer ever?

16 comments:

David Cranmer said...: Great video Patti! My #1 pick would be Billie Holiday. Just so much depth in those vocals but O' Day is definitely up there. I would also add Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, Diane Schuur, and Diana Krall to my personal list.; 6:28 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...: MY favorite is Nina Simone. She is sublime.; 6:55 PM
Rick Robinson said...: Christie is great. One look at JAZZ AT A SUMMERS DAY and you will be hooked. Sure she had down moments, but just listen. LISTEN. I guess Billy Holiday is the best, but Christie is close behind. Christie is close behind. Her version of "Tea for Two" is a masterpiece. Also, don't forget June Allison.; 7:45 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...: I'm off to you tube to catch her, I hope.; 8:01 PM
pattinase (abbott) said...: Damn, she's good, Rick.; 8:04 PM
Todd Mason said...: That's Anita O'Day, wobbling on ridiculous shoes, in JAZZ ON A SUMMER'S DAY, of course.

That's an easily-challenged list, there, Patti, though I'd agree with the inclusion of Holiday, Fitzgerald, and Vaughan. Annie Ross and Betty Carter are probably who I'd fill out the top five female jazz singers list with, but Sheila Jordan and others wouldn't be too far out of the running, nor would O'Day, nor Abbey Lincoln. Who suggested that list? I haven't listened to a lot of Christy yet, and probably should. Hell, I haven't listened to enough Mary Ford yet.

Five male vocalists: Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, King Pleasure, Jon Hendricks, Mose Allison. Oscar Brown and Dave Lambert, among others, might just dislodge these folks, and Johnny Mathis did some wonderful early work that is truly jazz. Gil Scott-Heron on the edges, among others.

And, certainly, Lambert, Hendricks and Ross is my default for vocal group, even with others impressive work.; 9:34 PM
Todd Mason said...: Nina Simone, like Aretha Franklin (whom CBS had recording a Lot of jazz-pop early on, even if they had the good sense to let her record "Soulville" and "Take It Like You Give It" as well) and Washington, is almost too eclectic to be considered a jazz singer, but they all did fine work.

Among the many good currently active jazz/jazz-pop singers, in the same mode as Krall (whom, as with Nat King Cole, is too often overlooked as a pianist...given how her labels have tried to sell her with her legs, that's doubly understandable) are Jane Monheit and Judith Owen (Harry Shearer is her husband, even as "Elvis Costello" is Krall's...lucky men).; 9:44 PM
Anonymous said...: Anita has a seriously different approach and an incredible run of like 22 Lps in a row that are fantastic!; 2:22 AM
debra said...: I can't get the video to work so until I go over to You Tube, I can't comment on that, but I agee with you about Nina Simone---her voice is like sweet honey and warm rain!; 8:54 AM
Todd Mason said...: Sadly, YouTube doesn't represent Ross nor L, H & R particularly well, though it's nice to see some of this stuff even though it's usually in rough shape or poorly recorded, or both.

Urzsula Dudziak and Flora Purim also have come to mind.; 9:01 AM
Todd Mason said...: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAlwvV19ZvQ offers a remarkably creepy fan video to go with the excellent studio recording of "Bijou" by Lambert, Hendricks and Ross (albeit in transcription to the YouTube recording, a slight flattening is notable).; 9:11 AM
Todd Mason said...: And, of course, there's Peggy Lee. (And Carmen McRae.) (And...); 9:47 AM
Dana King said...: I'm more into jazz instrumentals than singers, but Diane Schuur is awfully good.

I was lucky enough to see Joe Williams in concert with Count Basie's band many years ago. That was a hell of a show.; 10:48 AM
pattinase (abbott) said...: Love that LHR stuff. Going to download a few.; 2:41 PM
the walking man said...: Cab Calloway actually but only because i doubt Joni Mitchell would have made the cut.; 6:41 AM
Jack said...: Otillie Patterson and Cleo Laine come to mind. The first with Chris Barber and the other with Johnny Dankworth.

BTW - Friday's forgotten book from me has a new home; 7:06 AM

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