Pure piano magic from Bobby Timmons – a pair of great albums from his years at Riverside Records! First up is Sweet & Soulful Sounds – a wonderful mellow trio session from Bobby – done with a spare, relaxed approach that's a nice contrast to the recordings he was making for Prestige around the same time – but which still has the same deep, soulful approach to the piano that makes those records so great! Half a dozen trio numbers with Sam Jones and Roy McCurdy are rounded out with two piano solos, "God Bless The Child" and "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" – both of which present Bobby in an especially introspective mode, one you don't hear that often on record!
In his dual role as trumpeter and singer, the perennial Chet Baker was one of the undisputed masters of the jazz ballad, able to reach climaxes of intense feeling and intimacy. This CD compiles Chet Baker’s original versions of many of the songs heard in the recent biopic film based on his life, and reminds us of his superb talents. The unforgettable performances by Odetta and Charles Mingus used on the soundtrack, as well as two amazing versions of the title song, “Born to Be Blue”, sung by Nancy Wilson and Helen Merrill (the latter is baked by another brilliant trumpet, Clifford Brown, on the recording) have also been included.
Sultry jazz chanteuse who started off in the 1950s with the Ray Charles Singers, continued performing into the '00s. After making her recording debut in 1959 for Roulette Records, with Born To Be Blue, the marked shift in popular music patterns resulted in a highly successful career in the studios. Phillips now became one of the most respected and in-demand studio performers in the music business in New York City. Throughout the 60s, she sang in backing groups on countless recording sessions, wrote, arranged and produced commercials. Artists with whom she worked during these years include the Sammy Davis Jnr. , the Four Tops, Leslie Gore, Linda Ronstadt, Mahalia Jackson, Wilson Pickett and Martha And The Vandellas.
After sharing Grammy nominations in three categories earlier this year (two for production on Kenny Garrett’s album “Seeds From the Underground” and one co-writing of a song on Denise Donatelli’s album “Soul Shadows”), returning to playing piano after a year-long hiatus due for medical reasons, and releasing his new album “Born to Be Blue,” Brown may be on the verge of getting the recognition that in-the-know jazz lovers have known he deserves.