Connee Boswell - Connee Boswell and the Original Memphis Five in Hi-Fi '1956 [2007]

Tracks list

Will Friedwald, in his definitive book “Jazz Singing” names this
album, “Connee Boswell And The Original Memphis Five In Hi-Fi” as
one of the greatest jazz vocal albums of ALL TIME. This is straight up Dixie
style jazz, and the horns just about ooze out of the speakers in rich high
fidelity sound (hence the name) and Connee Boswell turns in the absolute best of
her latter-day performances. There are a number of instrumentals here mixed in
with the vocals, and Connee was pretty much in charge of all of the
arrangements. For many years this was quite a hard recording to come by, one of
those “lost classics,” and now that it’s finally here on
Amazon, interested parties should grab it before it’s too late.
I’m afraid that Connee Boswell and the Original Memphis Five just
don’t command the attention from music consumers that they would in a
perfectly balanced world. This album was essentially the swan song for Connee
AND trombonist Miff Mole, and they really took advantage of the opportunity to
secure their legacies as consummate jazz artists. Connee did a couple other
recordings for small labels, and they are good, but this really is her
“spiritual” swan song, if you will. These musicians were there
almost at the very beginning of jazz proper, blazing brilliant musical paths
which resonate still. That they were given the opportunity to say farewell in
such a bright and wonderful way is a minor miracle. Seldom do careers in music
wrap up on such a high note. Pick up this little known classic before it
disappears for good–it’s something special.

Tracks:

01. When My Sugar Walks Down the Street (2:44)
02. Say It Isnt So (3:24)
03. At the Jazz Band Ball (2:43)
04. Japanese Sandman (2:28)
05. Make Love to Me (2:59)
06. My Honeys Loving Arms (2:50)
07. Pagan Love Song (2:47)
08. Giannina Mia (2:51)
09. Singin the Blues (3:37)
10. All of Me (1:55)
11. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate (3:11)
12. When the Saints Go Marching In (2:48)

Personnel:

Connie Boswell - vocals
James Lytell - clarinet
Billy Butterfield - trumpet
Milford Mole - trombone
Frank Signorelli - piano
Eugene Traxler - bass
Anthony Sbarbaro - drums

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