CD-Charts Position 111
Average Rating:

After Hours with Miss D

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Dinah Washington

Release Date February 10, 2004
It was easy to overlook and underrate Dinah Washington when, at least in the jazz world, Billie, Ella, Sarah, Carmen and Nancy were getting the plaudits. But hers is a sound as "natural" as Lady Day's, except more extroverted. She was small of stature but tall on talent and strong in body and soul, a determined performer who could be equally effective on ballads and up-tempo swingers. My suspicion is that the numerous "pop" recordings contrasting her essentially raw vocal quality with a surplus of smarmy strings will continue to languish while a session like this--Dinah mixing it up with equally authentic, immediately identifiable voices like Lockjaw Davis and Clark Terry--will continue to serve her memory and reputation best. This is an ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 112
Average Rating:

The Collection

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Bessie Smith

Release Date October 25, 1990
One of the beat CD collections I own.
LOVE HER VOICE!

CD-Charts Position 113
Average Rating:

From Spirituals To Swing

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date August 24, 1999
To me all the gold is in the prewar Count Basie Orchestra and this is the glue that holds together these recordings. Purely from the standpoint of Basieism, this is a crucial and important record.


The way that the sound has been remastered and recorded in this edition of the recordings, gives us the best real view of the Basie Orchestra on any live album I have ever heard that was cut before WWII, and better sound than some postwar live shots. Part of this is because of the superb natural acoustics of Carneige Hall. Part of this is that these concerts were recorded with actual recording equipment, while all the other live prewar Basie I know of are home wire recorder recordings of radio broadcasts.


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CD-Charts Position 114
Average Rating:

Hoodoo Lady (1933-1937)

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Memphis Minnie

Release Date April 09, 1991
One of the interesting facts about the development of the blues is that in the early days the recorded music and the bulk of the live performances were done by women, at least they were the most popular exponents of the genre. That time, the early 1920's to the 1930's was the classic age of women blues performers. Of course, when one thinks about that period the name that comes up is the legendary Bessie Smith. Beyond that, maybe some know Ethel Waters. And beyond that-a blank.

Yet the blues singer under review, Memphis Minnie, probably had as a productive career as either of the above-mentioned names. And here is the kicker. If you were to ask today's leading women blues singers like Bonnie Raitt or Maria Muldaur about influences ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 115
Average Rating:

Songs for Distingué Lovers

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Billie Holiday

Release Date October 28, 1997
Through the years, I have read critics write about Billie losing her voice
as she got older - UTTER NONSENSE! Not on this recording. If anything, she gained feeling and emotional content due to living life.

You would be hard pressed to put together a better group of sympathetic musicians from this period to back her, and to play such GORGEOUS solos.
BEN WEBSTER, HARRY EDISON, BARNEY KESSEL, JIMMY ROWLES, RED MITCHELL, ALVIN STOLLER - Wow! These gentlemen were (are) a singers' dream to record with. Sinatra should have hired similar personnel when he formed REPRISE, but this is getting off track here.

Like K.O.B.(for instrumental jazz), THIS RECORDING belongs near the top
of anyone's Vocal collection.

CD-Charts Position 116
Average Rating:

Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz, Vol. 2

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date October 13, 1992
I have this entire 5 cd set with book and I can't praise it highly enough. Excellent compilation of the best jazz from the turn of the century through the 60's. I know that "The Smithsonian Collection of Classic Jazz" sounds like some dry documentary put together by a bunch of white professors using slide rules and electron microscopes to determine what indeed is the best jazz, but don't let that fool you. This set is a joy to listen to.

You won't find that it contains only what was the most popular jazz, but you will find what was the best and most innovative. The set is a cheap and quick way to familiarize yourself with the greatest names and groups in jazz history. Even if you're already familiar with these names, this set is a great ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 117
Average Rating:

Royal Blue

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Koko Taylor

Release Date June 06, 2000
Big Koko fan here and this is a great CD for fans of her music. Its not as strong as some of her other albums but she always sets the bar high.

CD-Charts Position 118
Average Rating:

Ma Rainey

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Ma Rainey

Release Date July 01, 1991
The cd was terrific and the quality was just as I expected..., real! My mother taught me a saying, I didn't understand it until I had to face the reality of it myself. It was, "I've forgotten more than you'll ever know." This means there are so many experiences,so much history that our parents, grandparents and ancestors, witnessed, that was crammed into their lifetimes than they were capable of recalling, to us. I stop to think of what went on during the making of this music, what wasn't listed in the history books; romanitisizing of what everyday life struggles and accomplishments of the '30's and '40's. And to still have the power to put out such incredible music! Never forget where you came from and learn from your past and history because you ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 119
Average Rating:

The Best of Dinah Washington

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Dinah Washington

Release Date January 26, 1993
The Best of Dinah Washington is a solid assortment of Dinah's work on Roulette Records and wow, is Dinah's voice ever in great form! Sure, the musical arrangements are rather similar; but I'm not sure Dinah had complete power over that. The sound quality is very good and I like the artwork, too.

"You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You" has a fine big band style arrangement; and when Dinah comes in this number really takes flight! Dinah swings brightly and her voice is like silk. Dinah's excellent diction and her fine sense of timing enhance her performance even further! "Call Me Irresponsible" features Dinah squarely front and center; she sings this ballad with panache. Dinah also injects a certain romantic quality into this number using her finely ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 120
Average Rating:

I Can't Be Satisfied: Early American Women Blues Singers, Vol. 2: Town

CD-Charts > Music > Classic Female Vocal Blues
by: Various Artists

Release Date May 20, 1997
Approximately 68 min. Remastered sound. This is the second volume of female singers from Yazoo Records from the 1920's,and is equal to the first. These tracks cover a more big-city sound of blues singing. The first volume had a rural feel to it. This album has a more sophisticated sound,both in the style of singing and the arrangements. The backing on these tracks is fleshed out with horns from small jazz combos and have an overall feel of almost a Louis Armstrong style. Singers relatively known like Victoria Spivey,Sippie Wallace,and Ma Rainey make a showing here. But others,like the fine Clara Smith and Bertha Hill also make an appearrance. The subject matter has not changed all that much from the first volume. Matters of the heart,money,and down and out times ... Read More: