a Wife's Heart 1956

Johnny Hartman's album debut is a set of tender ballads, each word of which is treasured by Hartman's expansive, evocative voice. The ballads appear not only especially chosen, but practically written with Hartman in mind. He shines on highlights like "I Fall in Love Too Easily," "We'll Be Together Again," "Moonlight in Vermont," and "I See Your Face Before Me," often transforming midtempo songs into completely downtempo ballads and shifting the emphasis on different beats with his phrasing. The backing - from drummer Ralph Sharon, trumpeter Howard McGhee, bassist Jay Cave, and drummer Christy Febbo - is soft, spare, and completely supportive. A CD reissue by Bethlehem Archives adds six bonus tracks, alternate takes of tracks from the original LP.

This album may be laidback, but it's hardly mellow at all - thanks to the presence of Sonny Clark on piano! The session's one of those great 50s pairings of Clark's piano and the clarinet of Buddy DeFranco - proof not only that Buddy could sound pretty darn soulful when he wanted, but also that he was always willing to grow and bring in some new ideas to his music.
And the pairing with Clark is one of the best ideas that Buddy ever had - a mode that makes his instrument sound even more soulful than ever, almost like a soprano sax at times. Rhythm is rounded out by bass from Gene Wright and drums from Bobby White - who give the album a nicely easygoing groove - on tunes that include "Sonny's Idea", "The Bright One", "Minor Incident", and "I'll Remember April".