Search - Teri Thornton :: Devil May Care

Teri Thornton, shamefully unknown, but one of the best

T. H VonZabern | Boston, MA, USA | 07/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 2000 I had the privilege of hearing and meeting Teri shortly before the end of her difficult and tragic life. At that time, her voice was rich in expressive power, but craggy and worn from a lifetime of hardship, alcohol, drugs and finally cancer. The first time I listened to the opening passages of "Lullaby of the Leaves", the opening cut of "Devil May Care" my knees buckled. Here was a voice as rich and deep, as expressive and as unabashedly gorgeous as was ever found in recorded jazz history. Teri was young and not well known when this album was first released, but it started her on the way to stardom, and engendered comparisons of her voice with Ella's.The arrangements are subtle, transparent and effective, with a discrete combo of able musicians, allowing Teri full freedom of expression. Who knows, had the subsequent album "Open Highway" consisted of similar and less commercialized arrangements, Teri's career might have taken a very different turn. As history wrote it, Teri's career nosedived after "Open Highway" failed to meet sales expectations, and tragically, no recordings followed for thirty-five years. Had it been different, the world would certainly have been a richer place, and Teri might have assumed her rightful place beside Ella, Sarah and other universally loved immortals."

Flawless

Marcia R. Houston | Cleveland, OH USA | 03/31/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Teri Thornton was probably one of the best kept secrets of her time. Devil May Care is flawless--her contralto voice-- flawless. A must for any jazz vocal lover. Her enterpretation of the classic Detour Ahead, What's Your Story Morning Glory are incredible--I first heard this "album" as a kid and it stayed with me throughout my teens and now adulthood. I'm so thankful that I can now listen to this glorious gem again and again in CD form. Check it out for yourself--trust me, you'll love this classic."

Listen to - Don't read - the Tracks

Fred_PA | Pittsburgh, PA United States | 06/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great singer well arranged and superbly backed. But titles of the album cuts on the website as of 6/20/03 are all wrong -- apparently from some other CD. Listen to the cuts -- they're not what's on the listing -- but they are tasty."