| Merrill at Midnight | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1957 | |||
| Recorded | February 21 & 27, 1957 New York City | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 28:29 | |||
| Label | EmArcy MG 36107 | |||
| Producer | Bob Shad | |||
| Helen Merrill chronology | ||||
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Merrill at Midnight is the fourth album by Helen Merrill, featuring the singer fronting a quartet augmented by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Hal Mooney, recorded in 1957 and released on the EmArcy label. [1]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
The AllMusic review by Bruce Eder stated "this one's a keeper and in a class by itself, with lots and lots of class." [2]
William Clarence Eckstine was an American jazz and pop singer and a bandleader during the swing era. He was noted for his rich, almost operatic bass-baritone voice. His recording of "I Apologize" was given the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1999. The New York Times described him as an "influential band leader" whose "suave bass-baritone" and "full-throated, sugary approach to popular songs inspired singers like Earl Coleman, Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, Arthur Prysock and Lou Rawls."
Ian Ernest Gilmore Evans was a Canadian-American jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestrators in jazz, playing an important role in the development of cool jazz, modal jazz, free jazz, and jazz fusion. He is best known for his acclaimed collaborations with Miles Davis.
Helen Merrill is an American jazz vocalist. Her first album, the eponymous 1955 release Helen Merrill, was an immediate success and associated her with the first generation of bebop jazz musicians. After a prolific 1950s and '60s when she recorded with Charlie Parker and Clifford Brown, Merrill spent time recording and touring in Europe and Japan, falling into obscurity in the United States. In the 1980s and '90s, a contract with Verve Records and high-profile performances in America returned her to prominence. Noted for her emotional, sensual vocal performances, her career continues in its sixth decade with concerts and recordings.
James "Osie" Johnson was a jazz drummer, arranger and singer.
Hal Mooney, born Harold Mooney, was an American composer and arranger.
Hal McKusick was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist who worked with Boyd Raeburn from 1944 to 1945 and Claude Thornhill from 1948 to 1949.
Joseph Barry Galbraith was an American jazz guitarist.
James Henry Jones was an American jazz pianist and arranger.
Willis Leonard Holman, known professionally as Bill Holman, is an American composer, arranger, conductor, saxophonist, and songwriter working in jazz and traditional pop. His career is over six decades long, having started with the Charlie Barnet orchestra in 1950.
In the Land of Hi-Fi is a 1956 album by blues, R&B and jazz singer Dinah Washington released on the Emarcy label. The album includes a mix of jazz, popular and blues standards of the period, all selected to emphasize the vocalist's style. Allmusic characterizes it in its review as "yet another impressive set among the many fine EmArcy records Washington cut in the '50s."
Collaboration is a 1987 studio album by Helen Merrill, arranged by Gil Evans. With the almost identical repertoire of recorded songs –though in another order– and following Evans' original scores it is a celebratory re-recording of their previous collaboration from 30 years ago for Merrill's album Dream of You, released in 1957 also on EmArcy. The one exception is the opener, "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess, that Evans recorded with Miles Davis in 1958, it replaces "You're Lucky to Me". Like Dream of YouCollaboration was recorded on three consecutive recording sessions each with a different line-up, one with woodwinds and trombone for most songs, featuring soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy on two tracks, one session with brass and another with a string section and woodwind.
Dinah! is a 1956 album by blues, R&B and jazz singer Dinah Washington released on the EmArcy label. The album includes a mix of jazz, popular and blues standards of the period, all selected to emphasize the vocalist's style.
Sassy is an album by American jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughan with Hal Mooney and his orchestra featuring tracks recorded in 1956 and released on the EmArcy label.
In the Land of Hi-Fi with Georgie Auld and His Orchestra is an album by American jazz saxophonist and bandleader Georgie Auld featuring tracks recorded in 1955 and released on the EmArcy label.
Helen Merrill with Strings is the second album by Helen Merrill, featuring the singer fronting a quartet augmented by a string section arranged by Richard Hayman, recorded in 1955 and released on the EmArcy label.
Introducing Jimmy Cleveland and His All Stars is the debut album led by American trombonist Jimmy Cleveland featuring tracks recorded in 1955. It was released on the EmArcy label.
Feelin' Good is an album by American jazz saxophonist Gerry Mulligan featuring performances recorded in 1965 and first released on the Limelight label.
Percussion at Work is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances recorded in 1957 and first released on the EmArcy label.
Warm Wave is an album by Latin jazz vibraphonist Cal Tjader fronting an orchestra arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman recorded in 1964 and released on the Verve label.
Duets is an album by vocalist Helen Merrill and bassist Ron Carter recorded in 1989 and released on the EmArcy label.