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Helen Merrill: Four Classic Albums (CD: AVID, 2 CDs)Helen Merrill: Four Classic Albums (CD: AVID, 2 CDs)
AVID jazz continues with its Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD release from Helen Merrill, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details. “Helen Merrill”; “Dream Of You”; “You’ve Got A Date With The Blues” and “The Nearness Of You”. 


Price:  £8.99 


Helen Merrill with Clifford Brown (CD: EmArcy- US Import)
Every recording by the short-lived trumpeter Clifford Brown is worth exploring, including his three dates with singers Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, and this CD reissue with Helen Merrill. Reissued as part of box sets headed by Brown and Merrill, the highly enjoyable Brown/Merrill sessions are also available as this single CD. Trumpeter Brown is joined by Danny Bank on baritone and flute, and a four-piece rhythm section including pianist Jimmy Jones and guitarist Barry Galbraith. Quincy Jones provided the arrangements. The music is essentially straight-ahead bop, yet the seven standards (which include "Don't Explain," "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," and "Falling in Love With Love") are uplifted by the presence of Merrill (in top form) and Brown. (Verve Music Group)

A BEBOP SHOP MILESTONE- An essential recording for your jazz CD shelf  


Price:  £13.99 

Helen Merrill with Clifford Brown (CD: EmArcy- US Import)


Helen Merrill: Dream Of You (CD: Fresh Sound)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:  £17.99 


Helen Merrill: Lilac Wine (Vinyl LP: Decca)
'Helen Merrill's recording career has spanned six decades. On Lilac Wine, released in 2003, the eminent jazz singer applies her magnificent voice to a collection of songs that she had never previously recorded, with the exception of ‘Lilac Wine’ – a song she first recorded in the '50s and revisits here. As throughout her long recording career, Merrill is surrounded here by first-rank musicians such as George Mraz (bass), Torrie Zito (piano, keyboard, arrangements) and Lew Soloff (trumpet). Merrill's singularly swinging style remains as potent and vibrantly spellbinding as ever. (Universal Music) 


Price:  £26.99 

Helen Merrill: Lilac Wine (Vinyl LP: Decca)

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