DINAH WASHINGTON - Complete Recordings with Don Costa
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55670 (Two CD Set)
CD One
Dinah Washington ( vocals )
With Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by Don Costa
Recorded New York, May to August 1962
CD Two
Tracks 1 to 9
As CD One
Bonus tracks 10to 18
Dinah Washington (vocals )
With Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by Fred Norman
Recorded New York, March 1962
Track 19
Trio medley with Dinah Washington ( vocal ) Frank Wess ( flute ) Jack Wilson ( pno )
Recorded New York, March 1962
Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1924 Dinah Washington led a chequered life getting through a number of marriages not helped by an addiction to alcohol which led to her early demise in 1963.
After a spell with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra she had a great deal of success in the R & B field and in the Fifties she began recording with jazz groups before recording in the mainstream field. On these recordings she is accompanied by orchestra arranged and conducted by Don Costa who has had a great deal of success with singers in particular Frank Sinatra on his “Sinatra With Strings” album.
These two Cds cover many well known standards and others not too well known but Dinah Washington has the ability to make inferior material sound much better than it deserves. She Has a distinctive style and delivery and it would be impossble to confuse her with any other singer.
All the tracks in the main on the first CD are taken at slow ballad tempo although “That Old Felling” generates a nice easy swing. Cy Coleman’s “I’m Going To Laugh You Out Of My Life” is one of the songs on the album and Dinah Washington gives a splendid interpretation. “I Wouldn’t Know What To Do” takes Miss Washington back to her R & D roots which she excels at.
Tracks 1 to 9 on CD Two carry on where CD One finished with ballad style much in evidence except for “I Used To Love You” which is taken a swinging tempo. The bonus tracks 10 to 18 are the complete “Drinking Again” ind include some alternative takes for good measure. ”Drinking Again” has typical Johnny Mercer lyrics and is possibly the best track from the album with “Where Are You” coming a close second.. All the tracks have something to recommend them as they are quality material and Dinah Washington give them just the right treatment.
The final track is a ballad medley which extends to over twenty one minutes and is the jewel in the crown. This is Dinah Washington at her most reflective with just piano backing with delightful interventions by Frank Wess on flute. The medley consists of eight songs and they are worth quting for their quality. They are in the order sung, Ill Wind / For All We Know / I Could Have Told You So / Smoke Gets In Your Eyes / Goodbye / Make The Man Love Me / Blue Gardenia / I Concentrate On You, not on of them less than first class. The whole thing is woven together with skill and artistry by pianist Jack Wilson.
This is the best of Dinah Washington and is highly recommended for both the vocals and the backing.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Essential Jazz Classics EJC55670 (Two CD Set)
CD One
Dinah Washington ( vocals )
With Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by Don Costa
Recorded New York, May to August 1962
CD Two
Tracks 1 to 9
As CD One
Bonus tracks 10to 18
Dinah Washington (vocals )
With Orchestra Arranged & Conducted by Fred Norman
Recorded New York, March 1962
Track 19
Trio medley with Dinah Washington ( vocal ) Frank Wess ( flute ) Jack Wilson ( pno )
Recorded New York, March 1962
Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1924 Dinah Washington led a chequered life getting through a number of marriages not helped by an addiction to alcohol which led to her early demise in 1963.
After a spell with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra she had a great deal of success in the R & B field and in the Fifties she began recording with jazz groups before recording in the mainstream field. On these recordings she is accompanied by orchestra arranged and conducted by Don Costa who has had a great deal of success with singers in particular Frank Sinatra on his “Sinatra With Strings” album.
These two Cds cover many well known standards and others not too well known but Dinah Washington has the ability to make inferior material sound much better than it deserves. She Has a distinctive style and delivery and it would be impossble to confuse her with any other singer.
All the tracks in the main on the first CD are taken at slow ballad tempo although “That Old Felling” generates a nice easy swing. Cy Coleman’s “I’m Going To Laugh You Out Of My Life” is one of the songs on the album and Dinah Washington gives a splendid interpretation. “I Wouldn’t Know What To Do” takes Miss Washington back to her R & D roots which she excels at.
Tracks 1 to 9 on CD Two carry on where CD One finished with ballad style much in evidence except for “I Used To Love You” which is taken a swinging tempo. The bonus tracks 10 to 18 are the complete “Drinking Again” ind include some alternative takes for good measure. ”Drinking Again” has typical Johnny Mercer lyrics and is possibly the best track from the album with “Where Are You” coming a close second.. All the tracks have something to recommend them as they are quality material and Dinah Washington give them just the right treatment.
The final track is a ballad medley which extends to over twenty one minutes and is the jewel in the crown. This is Dinah Washington at her most reflective with just piano backing with delightful interventions by Frank Wess on flute. The medley consists of eight songs and they are worth quting for their quality. They are in the order sung, Ill Wind / For All We Know / I Could Have Told You So / Smoke Gets In Your Eyes / Goodbye / Make The Man Love Me / Blue Gardenia / I Concentrate On You, not on of them less than first class. The whole thing is woven together with skill and artistry by pianist Jack Wilson.
This is the best of Dinah Washington and is highly recommended for both the vocals and the backing.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
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