Search - Connee Boswell :: Connee

Mature Connee Boswell Sings

Randall Riley | Austin, TX | 12/09/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For those not familiar with the Great Connee Boswell, do a little research on the net and learn all about the star that Ella Fitzgerald called her *only* influence. That said, let's take a look at the material on this album.



First, this is really a reissue of two seperate series of recording sessions, the Decca recordings Connee made with the Sy Oliver Orchestra in 1956 and the RCA Victor recordings she made with the Original Memphis Five. Both of these albums have been reissued seperately on import CD's with excellent remastering directly from the studio master tapes. If you can find a copy of them, I recommend you track down those CD's.



To this CD, I would say that the sound is fair to good and it's certainly good that this material is available.



As a long-time fan of Connee and having collected her entire catalog of commercial recordings from 1925-1963, I would have to say that for the most part, her recordings with Sy Oliver represent her least interesting recordings, at least to me. The work with the Original Memphis Five, however, are excellent and imaginative. Of special interest is her multi-tracked "Gianina Mia," which reprises Connee's Boswell Sister trio sound.

By the mid-50's, Connee's voice has significantly changed- she's older, the vibrato is heavier and huskier and she's adopted a much bluesier style than she had in earlier years. Still, she's one of our finest jazz singers and even with a less-velvety voice, a top notch vocalist in any era."