Search - Annette Hanshaw :: Twenties Sweetheart

Great forgotten vocalist evokes the Jazz Age

07/10/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Since the Gramophone review posted on this site seems more concerned with Miss Hanshaw's financial status and her backup band, it may be worth mentioning that Hanshaw captured, better than any other vocalist of her era, the Jazz Age. She has a plaintive, wistful quality which you won't find in any other vocalist of the period. Her diction is pure and clear and her phrasing is impeccable.The selections on this CD present some of her finest work. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A WALK? is the definitive recording of this delightful flapper era novelty song. FIT AS A FIDDLE is a perfect combination of vocalist, melody, lyrics and accompaniment ~ it's the best version of this song you'll ever hear. MOON SONG and LITTLE WHITE LIES demonstrate Hanshaw's considerable gifts for ballad singing. BIG CITY BLUES, THE RIGHT KIND OF MAN and THAT'S YOU, BABY are all in Hanshaw's best tempo ~ midway between blues and hot jazz. The classic songs in the set, BODY AND SOUL and LET'S FALL IN LOVE, are rendered with surprising power and poignance. YOU WOULDN'T FOOL ME, WOULD YOU? showcases yet another facet of Hanshaw's vocal abilities: her near-perfect Helen Kane 'boop boop a doop' impersonation. HO HUM!, a parody of the 'june spoon moon' songs of the period, may be one of the wittiest recordings of the era. Tommy Dorsey, then a session player on a number of Annette Hanshaw recordings, once said that Annette Hanshaw was a musician's singer. That's a high compliment from Dorsey, who went to coach another young vocalist named Frank Sinatra. Buy this wonderful CD and find out for yourself how brilliant this great forgotten vocalist really is. Rick Levinson"

The 1st real jazz singer of the 20's...

a | 05/12/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Annette Hanshaw was just about the only female vocalist(not including classic blues moaners like Bessie Smith) that was really singing jazz in the 20's, the only other was Ethel Waters. Hanshaw would improvise, scat, and swing, backed by only the finest jazz musicians of the time, and since Hanshaw came from a wealthy family and was already quite wealthy herself, she could hire the finest jazz players like Manny Klein, Joe Venuti, The Memphis Five, Dorsey Brothers, and essentailly had the same backup groups that the Boswell Sisters had, in the 30's. Due to Hanshaw's wealth she did not have to record pop tunes like Ruth Etting, or Kate Smith, she chose herself what she would record so it's all jazz, and in fun. She retired in the early 30's unfortionately. This CD is a nice overview of her recordings from the 20's. Highly recommended."

Annette Hanshaw with The Memphis Five... now that's hot jazz

a | 05/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Annette Hanshaw was the most swingin' singers from the 20's, she recorded many sides with the red hot dixieland/New Orleans style jazz band The Memphis Five. Most of her recordings with The Memphis Five are on this CD. Hanshaw herself was strictly a jazz singer from the start, and since she was an heiress she didn't need to resort to betty Boopish singing, she sang jazz before anyone else practicly. Thic CD covers her earlier sessins and is well worth owning."