Search - Connee Boswell :: Deep in a Dream

Simply the best jazz singer to ever come out of New Orleans.

Roadrunner | 11/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Connee Boswell(sometimes Connie), was simply the greatest jazz singer to come out of New Orleans, or anywhere for that matter. Of course she started leading her vocal trio The Boswell Sisters(the only real jazz vocal group ever, other then Lambert, Hendricks & Ross). Connee Boswell married her manager when the sisters broke up(due to their husbands not wanting them to work). Connee had a successful solo career having a string of #1 hits including "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart," "Amapola," "One Dozen Roses," "Alexander's Ragtime Band," with Bing Crosby, "That Old Feeling" and literally dozens of other hits. Boswell's phrasing is pure jazz and essentially her New Orleans accent adds to the charm, her innate sense of rhythm, and her yes suh's, all add up to a delightful songstress who could handle anything from Irving Berlin, to Ellington, and more traditional Dixieland-ish material. This CD covers the 30's mostly and only hints at the more Smith-ish(Bessie Smith influenced) Boswell of the 40's & 50's(that would later influence both Ella Fitzgerald and Miss Wheel Of Fortune herslf Kay Starr). Boswell swinging way with a song, and chrystal clear, and New Oleans accented phrasing is a true delight(if you already like Lee Wiley or Mildred Bailey, Boswell is a MUST for you). This CD has some gems, big highlights are "On The Beach At Bali-Bali" a typical 30's pop tune, which Boswell turns into some 1st class jazz vocal masterpeice, also worth mentioning is "Martha" and "Ah, Sweet Mystery Of Life." As well as her big commercial hits, that are also artiscticly satifying jazz-wise like the essential "Sand In My Shoes"(another 30's sentimenatl tune, which she makes a classic jazz standard out of), the torchy "Deep In A dream" and three of her biggest hits "Ebb Tide" "One Dozen Roses" and "Amapola." And if that's not enought there are several great duets with bing Crosby(not to mention Bob Crosby & His Bob Cats, which often backed up Miss Boswell). Every track is a gem, and is worthy of listening to over and over again. If you truly want to hear a jazz singer who as Will Friedwald(author of "Jazz Singing") describes as one of the best jazz singers ever, who praises her troughout his book, this CD is for you. Essential for all serious jazz collectors, who want a comprehensive jazz library.Also search long & hard for on of Connee Boswell's last sessions on lp from the mid 50's titled "Connee Boswell & The Original Memephis Five In Hi-Fi", avaialable on CD as a French import at some Tower Records stores, her best lp."

Fabulous voice

Roadrunner | 06/03/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Connie Boswell has a beautiful way of expressing herself. Nice that she left her sisters at home for this one!!"