Blossom Dearie - Its The Lovely...Blossom Dearie! Vol 4 '2019

Tracks list

A distinctive, girlish voice and crisp, impeccable delivery, plus an
irrepressible sense of playful swing, made Blossom Dearie one of the most
enjoyable singers of the vocal era. Her warmth and sparkle ensured that shed
never treat standards as the well-worn songs they often appeared in less capable
hands. And though her reputation was made on record with a string of excellent
albums for Verve during the 50s, she remained a draw with Manhattan cabaret
audiences long into the new millennium.

Actually born with the name Blossom Dearie in the New York Catskills, she began
playing piano at an early age and studied classical music before making the
switch to jazz while in high school. After graduation, she moved to New York and
began appearing with vocal groups like the Blue Flames (attached to Woody
Herman) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey). She also played cocktail piano
around the city, and moved to Paris in 1952 to form her own group, the Blue
Stars of France. Dearie also appeared in a nightclub act with Annie Ross, and
made a short, uncredited appearance on King Pleasures vocalese classic, Moodys
Mood for Love. She recorded an obscure album of piano solos, and in 1954, the
Blue Stars hit the national charts with a French version of Lullaby of Birdland.

After hearing Dearie perform in Paris in 1956, Norman Granz signed her to Verve
and she returned to America by the end of the year. Her eponymous debut for
Verve featured a set of standards that slanted traditional pop back to its roots
in Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and cabaret. Her focus on intimate readings of
standards (Deed I Do, Thou Swell) and the relaxed trio setting (bassist Ray
Brown and drummer Jo Jones, plus Dearie on piano) drew nods to her cabaret
background.

On her next few records, Dearie stuck to her focus on standards and small
groups, though her gift for songwriting emerged as well with songs like Blossoms
Blues. She performed in solo settings at supper clubs all over New York, and
appeared on the more cultured of the late-50s New York talk shows. Her husband,
flutist Bobby Jaspar, made several appearances on her records, notably 1959s My
Gentleman Friend. After a recording break in the early 60s, Blossom Dearie
signed to Capitol for one album (1964s May I Come In?), but then recorded
sparingly during the rest of the decade.

Finally, in the early 70s, she formed her own Daffodil Records label and began
releasing her own work, including 1974s Blossom Dearie Sings and 1976s My New
Celebrity Is You. She also performed at Carnegie Hall with Anita ODay and Joe
Williams, billed as the Jazz Singers. She continued to perform and record during
the 1980s through to the early 2000s, centered mostly in New York but also a
regular attraction in London as well. She retired from playing live in 2006 due
to health concerns and died quietly in her Greenwich Village apartment on
February 7, 2009. ~ John Bush

Tracklist:
01. Blossom Dearie - Guys And Dolls
02. Blossom Dearie - Confession
03. Blossom Dearie - Rhode Island Is Famous For You
04. Blossom Dearie - To Keep My Love Alive
05. Blossom Dearie - Too Good For The Average Man
06. Blossom Dearie - The Gentleman Is A Dope
07. Blossom Dearie - Always True To You In My Fashion
08. Blossom Dearie - Napoleon
09. Blossom Dearie - Life Upon The Wicked Stage
10. Blossom Dearie - The Physician
11. Blossom Dearie - Love Is The Reason
12. Blossom Dearie - Buckle Down, Winsocki
13. Blossom Dearie - Little Jazz Bird
14. Blossom Dearie - Gentleman Friend
15. Blossom Dearie - Its Too Good To Talk About Now
16. Blossom Dearie - Chez Moi
17. Blossom Dearie - You Fascinate Me So
18. Blossom Dearie - YouVe Got Something I Want
19. Blossom Dearie - Boum!
20. Blossom Dearie - LEtang
21. Blossom Dearie - Hello Love
22. Blossom Dearie - Someone To Watch Over Me

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