Helen Merrill: Dream Of You (CD: Fresh Sound)
Helen Merrill’s vocal tone was always warm and husky. She developed from an apprehensive, untried singer, wanting to be accepted, into a calm and competent performer who could use her voice as an instrument of mood. Dream of You was one of her best albums and an arranging triumph for Gil Evans, who did all the scoring and conducting. Evans, an extraordinarily sensitive and supple colorist, wrote with particular care for the contours (linear and emotional) of each song, as well as a measured understanding of Helen’s texture and phrasing.The second album included here, At Midnight, was recorded six months after the first one, and was another smash hit for Helen. This time the backgrounds were tailored to her own approach by Harold “Hal” Mooney. For this collection, she harvested some of the better bits of romantic poetry that existed in wisps among the voluminous Tin Pan Alley melodies. (Absolute Distribution)
Price: £11.99
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