The Nearness of You | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1958 | |||
Recorded | December 18 and 19, 1957 and February 21, 1958 | |||
Studio | Universal Recording Studios, Chicago and unnamed studio, New York City | |||
Genre | Jazz | |||
Length | 37:30 | |||
Label | EmArcy | |||
Helen Merrill chronology | ||||
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The Nearness of You is the fifth studio album by Helen Merrill. [1] It includes performances of standards from two sessions with completely different lineups of accompanying musicians. The later session from February 21, 1958, features very notable jazz performers such as pianist Bill Evans and bassist Oscar Pettiford.
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide |
John Bush of AllMusic said that "[a]lternately breathy and atmospheric or bright and dynamic, Helen Merrill often reaches a bit too far on The Nearness of You, though her distinct style and strong personality may be refreshing to vocal fans tired of the standard versions of standards. ... Her powerful voice occasionally gets her into trouble, breaking from breathy to brash and often occupying a rather awkward middle ground." [1] The Bill Evans biographer Peter Pettinger wrote of the session featuring the pianist, "Merrill, enticingly warm, molded the intensity of her tone like a horn, coloring her line with a tastefully controlled vibrato." He also quotes Merrill herself as saying, "Bill was a wonderful accompanist. But is that any wonder since he was so very sensitive and endlessly musical?" [3]
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