Carmen Mercedes McRae was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpretation of lyrics.
Carmen Sings Monk is a 1990 studio album by the American jazz singer Carmen McRae, focusing exclusively on the songs composed by Thelonious Monk. It was one of the last recordings released in her lifetime. McRae was accompanied by Clifford Jordan on soprano and tenor saxophone, and a rhythm section with pianist Eric Gunnison, bassist George Mraz and Al Foster on drums. Two songs, namely "Get It Straight" and "Suddenly", were recorded earlier that year live at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco with tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, who played the longest time with Monk. The rhythm section was almost the same, then with Larry Willis on piano.
Penthouse Serenade is an instrumental jazz quartet album by Nat King Cole. It was released initially as a 10-inch LP in September, 1952, on Capitol Records. An expanded version was reissued in 1955 and a 19 track version was reissued in 1998.
"But Beautiful" is a popular song with music written by Jimmy Van Heusen, the lyrics by Johnny Burke. The song was published in 1947.
Carmen McRae Sings Lover Man and Other Billie Holiday Classics is a 1962 studio album by Carmen McRae, recorded in tribute to McRae's idol, Billie Holiday, who had died two years previously.
Soul on Top is the 28th studio album by American musician James Brown. The album was released in April 1970, by King. Brown and saxophonist Maceo Parker worked with arranger/conductor Oliver Nelson to record a big band, funk and jazz vocal album. It was recorded with Louie Bellson and his 18-piece jazz orchestra at United Western Recorders in Hollywood, California in November 1969, and features jazz standards, show tunes, and middle of the road hits, as well as a new arrangement of Brown's funk hit "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag".
Something Cool is the debut solo album by June Christy, released on Capitol Records first as a 10-inch LP of seven selections in August of 1954, and then as a 12-inch LP of eleven selections the following August, both times in monophonic sound. The original seven selections for the 1954 release were recorded over seven sessions from August of 1953 through March of 1954, with the additional four for the 1955 issue from four additional sessions in December of 1954 as well as May and June of 1955, with arrangements for all sessions written and conducted by Pete Rugolo. Her saxophonist husband, Bob Cooper, also played on many of these sessions. In April of 1960, Christy and Rugolo re-recorded all 11 selections in stereophonic sound, so that a stereo version of Something Cool could be issued. For many years, this re-recorded version of the album was the only one commercially available.
Jazz Giants '58 is a 1958 album produced by Norman Granz featuring Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan and Harry "Sweets" Edison, accompanied by Louis Bellson and the Oscar Peterson trio.
Don Ellis Orchestra 'Live' at Monterey! is a live album by trumpeter Don Ellis recorded in 1966 at the Monterey Jazz Festival and released on the Pacific Jazz label.
Live in 3⅔/4 Time is a live album by trumpeter Don Ellis recorded in 1966 at the Pacific Jazz Festival and Shelly's Manne-Hole in 1967 and released on the Pacific Jazz label. The title comes from the composition "Upstart", which is in 11
8 time with a 3+3+3+2 feel, cheekily referred to as 3+2⁄3
4 time.
Woman Talk is a live album by jazz vocalist Carmen McRae featuring tracks recorded at the Village Gate in New York in November 1965 and originally released on the Mainstream label the following year. The second half of the concert came out in 1968 as "Live" & Wailing. The whole recording was compiled on a double LP in 1973 under the title Alive!.
Carmen McRae is a 1955 album by Jazz singer Carmen McRae. It was McRae's second album and was released on the Bethlehem label exclusively as 10" monoaural LP. The album was reissued on LP in 1976 as The Finest of Carmen McRae: You'd Be So Easy to Love, with an additional track, "Too Much in Love to Care". In 1994 Betlehem had digitally remastered the recordings and released a CD with six additional tracks, alternate takes of songs from the original sessions.
For Once in My Life is a studio album by American singer Carmen McRae, released in 1967 by Atlantic Records. The arranger was Johnny Keating. The recording was made in London at Olympic Studios. The album consists covers mainly of modern popular songs by Burt Bacharach, Brian Wilson, the Beatles and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
The Great American Songbook is a 1972 live album by Carmen McRae, accompanied by a jazz quartet including Jimmy Rowles and Joe Pass. McRae was a great fan of Rowles and described him in the liner notes to the album as "the guy every girl singer in her right mind would like to work with". Rowles's humorous country and western song, "The Ballad of Thelonious Monk", is featured on the album.
Torchy! is a 1956 album by jazz singer Carmen McRae arranged by Jack Pleis and Ralph Burns.
It Takes a Whole Lot of Human Feeling is an album by American jazz vocalist Carmen McRae recorded in 1973 and released on the Groove Merchant label. The album's title track is a song from the 1971 musical Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope.
"Old Folks" is a 1938 popular song and jazz standard composed by Willard Robison with lyrics by Dedette Lee Hill, the wife and occasional colleague of Billy Hill. The lyrics tell of an old man nicknamed "Old Folks" and reference his service in the American Civil War, his habit of smoking with a "yellow cob pipe", and the prospect of his death.
Something Wonderful is a studio album by American singer Carmen McRae, released in 1963 by Columbia Records. The album was conceived as a tribute to the various female lead singers in Broadway musicals.
Haven't We Met? is a studio album by American singer Carmen McRae, released in 1965 by Mainstream Records. The arranger and conductor was Don Sebesky.
Live and Doin' It is a live album by American singer Carmen McRae, recorded in 1965 in San Francisco with the participation of her trio, which included pianist Norman Simmons, drummer Stu Martin and bassist Victor Sproles. The album was released only nine years later, in 1974, by Mainstream Records.
