Lee Wiley: S'Wonderful (CD: Proper, 2 CDs)
As the 1930s evolved in music, female singers emerged who had learned the lessons of the rhythmic advances made by Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong during the '20s. One of these singers, and one who would achieve considerable fame with the Big Bands, was Lee Wiley. Working initially with the Paul Whiteman orchestra, Wiley later had her own solo radio show before becoming part of the scene around bandleader Eddie Condon, and it was with the musicians around him (as well as other star swing era soloists) that Wiley made some of her most memorable recordings. After the war, Wiley recorded two albums for Columbia with the producer Mitch Miller. This Proper Pair presents a portrait of the evolution of this great singer, whose fragile style still possessed enough rhythmic swing to cut through even the playing of the all star bands she recorded with. (Proper Records)
Price: £9.99
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