Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Jazz business


As promised two more from my recent car boot haul. The focus this time is on Jazz. 

Rita Reys hailed from The Netherlands and in 1960 was crowned Europe's First Lady Of Jazz. On this album - a rare UK 10" release offering a slimmed down version of her 1956 album The Cool Voice Of Rita Reys - she was backed by a combo led by her then husband Wes Ilcken on one side, and on the other she was joined by the Jazz Messengers who at that time featured Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, and Doug Watkins. What a line up!

Chris Connor recorded this seemingly lesser known album "Witchcraft" in 1959. It was released on Atlantic in the US and on London a year later in the UK. Chris Connor first came to prominence in 1953 as a singer in Stan Kenton's band. She would soon turn solo, and became the first white female jazz singer to be signed to the Atlantic label, in 1956. 

Rita Reys - You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To 1956
(With The Jazz Messengers)

Buy "The Cool Voice Of Rita Reys"

Chris Connor - Baltimore Oriole 1959
(This one is for Ravel)

Buy "I Miss You So"/"Witchcraft"
       

2 comments:

Ravel said...

Ha ha ! Thanks !
Title song is great too ! :-)

ally. said...

damn fine finds. chris conner is a voice indeed. and rita is new to me and dashed welcome
x