Esther Joo

A remarkable vocalist who could holler gritty R&B lyrics, bring soul to torchy ballads, add charm and wit to the standards of the American Songbook, and make a Beatles song almost her own, Esther Phillips was formidably versatile, equally at ease with jazz, soul, country, pop and rhythm and blues. Famous for her bittersweet vocal sound and distinctive phrasing she was, in the words of Atlantic boss Ahmet Ertegun “one of the best singers he had ever heard”. Signed to Atlantic in 1964, she released a series of well-crafted albums, arranged by the likes of Ray Ellis and King Curtis. Here is some of the best of her output for the label.

A platinum-selling singer, Esther Phillips had a long and storied career and all of her recordings for KUDU (sub-label of CTI) have something nice on them, but this is probably the best one. The credits for “From A Whisper To A Scream“, Esther’s 1972 Kudu debut - considered by many to be her finest album for the label - lists such renowned players as Hank Crawford on sax, Eric Gale and Cornell Dupree on guitar, Bernard Purdie on drums, Richard Tee on keyboards and Gordon Edwards on bass. Also enlisting the cream of background singers (Joshie Armstead, Hilda Harris and Tasha Thomas) giving Esther just the right vocal cushion for her blues-tinged interpretations of works by everyone from poet/singer Gil Scott-Heron and the great Marvin Gaye to New Orleans legend Allen Toussaint and soul man Eddie Floyd.

Esther Phillips was an American singer, best known for her R&B vocals. She was a versatile singer and also performed pop, country, jazz, blues and soul music. In 1975, she released a disco-style update of Dinah Washington's "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes", her biggest hit single since "Release Me". It reached the Top 20 in the United States and the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying album of the same name became her biggest seller yet, with arranger Joe Beck on guitar, Michael Brecker on tenor sax, David Sanborn on alto sax, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Steve Khan on guitar and Don Grolnick on keyboards.

For her second solo recital album for Rubicon, Esther Birringer turns to Debussy with a recital that includes both books of his Images. Composed in 1901-5 (book 1) and 1907 (book 2), the composer was very pleased with Images, writing about the first set: “Without false pride, I feel that these three pieces hold together well, and that they will find their place in the literature of the piano… to the left of Schumann, or to the right of Chopin.”

Alongside Terence Collie, Esther Bennett has produced & recorded a new album called "Home is Where the Art Is" - A labour of love that explores her Birmingham roots and family connections in poetry & spoken word, featuring the music of artist and musician Didier Messidoro. Also, on the album and accompanied by Terence Collie on piano - are some incredibly quirky interpretations of a few well known and widely performed jazz standards that bear Esther's trademark humour, ability to tell a story and poignancy.

Esther Phillips was an American singer, best known for her R&B vocals. She was a versatile singer and also performed pop, country, jazz, blues and soul music. In 1975, she released a disco-style update of Dinah Washington's "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes", her biggest hit single since "Release Me". It reached the Top 20 in the United States and the Top 10 in the UK Singles Chart. The accompanying album of the same name became her biggest seller yet, with arranger Joe Beck on guitar, Michael Brecker on tenor sax, David Sanborn on alto sax, Randy Brecker on trumpet, Steve Khan on guitar and Don Grolnick on keyboards.