Search - Herb Jeffries :: Jamaica

Jeffries warm baritone doesn't match cheezy calypso...

Aaron The Baron | 09/27/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Calypso was a fad(a form of muzak, like disco in the 70's) in the late 50's, it wasn't a timeless fad like the Bossa Nova(which still sounds good today when played by Stan Getz or Charlie Byrd, but not the awful Austrid Gilberto), and calypso sounds very dated and folk song sounding today. Herb Jeffries is the legendary Duke Ellington "boy singer" who made it big with Ellington's Orchestra with the 1941 hit "Flamingo"(which can be acquired on Duke Ellington 1940-1941 on the Classics label, and is highly recomdeded) Jeffries also sang with many jazz small groups in the 30's led by Sidney Bechet and other jazz names. However before that he was known as "The Bronze Buckeroo" in black B westerns, similiar to Roy Rogers' B, but still enjoyable western flicks. Anyhow Jeffries best recordings come from his stint with Ellington, and his small group jazz sessions from the 30's, and those are hard to come by. He also recorded a great LP in the 50's called "Say It Isn't So"(on the cover is a gorgeous blonde on a nightie, only in the 50's! ) that is perhaps Jeffries finest LP, with lush arrangements and beautiful ballads, search used record stores for that one. This CD "Jamaica" doesn't work, Jeffries warm baritone just doesn't go with the calypso(that's like putting Bing Crosby with a polka band) it just doensn't sound good. Though Jeffries sounds great on ballads like "Only One Love," however most of the songs on this CD are just not up to par with Jeffries. This CD is not recomedned. Lastly go to Herb Jeffries website find out where he's going to be performing and go see him now, while he's still performing. Also buy his latest CD "The Duke & I"(which you can only get through his website) The Duke & I is a great CD of Jeffires singing standards(some Ellington) with fresh new jazzy arrangemets..."

This is not Jeffires best, but it's not horrible

Aaron The Baron | 12/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Considering that there aren't enough Jeffires cd's vaialble, I'd still pick up this one, even though I do agree with everything the other reviewer said. However nothing on this cd too terribly dated, anf there are several beautiful ballads(even famed jazz crotic Will Friedwald, has mentioned them). However before you buy this(whci is for die hard fans only), buy Say It Isn't So, The Duke & I(from Herb's site), and a hard to find twofer of Herb doing a trubute to Nat King Cole & Bing Crosby. His latest Country cd actually a good amount of jazz on it, and you'll be lucky to find a cd of his classic hits that includes Flamingo, but you can get the Duke Ellington set The Blanton Webster Years that includes most of Jeffries output with Ellington, including Flamingo. Buy this last if you can't get enough."