Mary Stallings, Fine and Mellow. Clarity Records.

$

50

Mary Stallings,

 Fine and Mellow.

 Clarity Records.

CNB-1001

33 rpm Lp

Vinyl and Jacket are Near Mint

Shaw Collection

Lpbox30

Below is Info from The Web.

Mary Stallings 

It is indeed unusual these days to hear a recording whose production both musically and technically is obviously a labor of love by skilled professionals. The musical mood on this Mary Stallings recording is reminiscent of the myriad of small-group sessions supervised over a 30 year period by the late John Hammond. That Stallings’ voice often has an unmistakable Billie Holiday inflection and that Noel Jewkes’ tenor sax style was obviously inspired by Lester Young many years ago makes the Hammond reference even stronger-the Hammond-produced Billie & Lester Sides on Brunswick in the late 1930s are the finest such recordings ever made. Marvelous singing, marvelous accompaniments with elegant solos-and a distinctly congenial informality about each selection. As it happens, only “fine and Mellow” from this set comes from the Billie Holiday book-and its recording in 1939 came after the Holiday-Hammond breakup. But other selections, here, maintain the mellow mood for sure. “Lazy Afternoon,” a wonderful choice, is an overlooked beauty that cabaret show-woman Kaye Ballard used to feature; Stallings is superb, here. “Lover Come Back To Me” at various tempos (usually too fast, though not here) has since its late 1920s appearance in “New Moon” been a favorite of jazz interpreters. Ella used to scat it at full-tilt, soprano saxist Sidney Bechet took it slow and easy, thick with vibrato. “Out of This World” (Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen) and “Dream Dancing” (Cole Porter) both come from the 1940s war years and are part of the repertoire of the better singers - like Mary Stallings. And what great accompaniment she has here - Merrill Hoover, on piano, is one of a number of superb San Francisco piano accompanists. He’s a fine arranger and ensemble player, and has accompanied most of the best of the jazz-oriented singers including Nancy Wilson, Anita O’Day and Billie Holiday in his many years on the Bay Area scene. Saxist Jewkes has more than 30 years experience in the San Francisco area, most of it in casually-organized groups. Although generally unknown around the country he’s an acknowledged treasure among Bay Area jazz fans. Bassist Jeff Chambers and drummer Gaylor Birch perform as professionals - Chambers gets a few solos (how nice to hear a natural acoustic-bass sound!) and Birch, joining Chambers, keeps the beat, and the faith. Singer Mary Stallings began singing in church at the tender age of 8. Before long she was out in jazz clubs and by the early ’60s she was everywhere, it seems - from Louis Jordan’s Tympani Five to the Earl Hines Bay Area band; she sang regularly with Dizzy Gillespie and for years was part of the Count Basie band. In more recent years Stallings has sung in every possible context with every conceivable type of group - from duets to pops symphonies. Quite obviously (just listen) Stallings is a magnificent song stylist and lyric interpreter - a real jazz singer, without the scat. As it should be, she is the crown jewel of this quite regal recording.

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