The Quarantined Jazz Voyager

As the Jazz Voyager continue to remain masked and socially distant, I have ventured out to a couple of events. I am, however, not surprised by the number of people who are unmasked and congregating as if the pandemic is over. This virus keeps mutating and though you may only get mildly ill, you will be ill and it will take a toll on your body, so protect yourself and others.

This week I am pulling out a classic album that shows this vocalist at her best delivering twelve compositions that were recorded on two separate occasions, December 5 & 16, 1957 in Los Angeles, California titled Carmen for Cool Ones. Released in 1958 by Carmen McRae on the Decca Records label, the sessions were arranged and directed by cellist Fred Katz.

The liner notes were scribed by Benny Golson and Burt Korall, and the photographs were taken by Wendy Hilty.

Track Listing | 36:15

  1. All the Things You Are (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) ~ 2:26
  2. A Shoulder to Cry On (Chuck Darwin, Paulette Girard) ~ 3:53
  3. Any Old Time (Artie Shaw) ~ 3:10
  4. Weak for the Man (Jeanne Burns) ~ 4:08
  5. What’s New? (Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart) ~ 2:29
  6. I Get a Kick Out of You (Cole Porter) ~ 2:15
  7. What Can I Say After I Say I’m Sorry? (Walter Donaldson, Abe Lyman) ~ 1:47
  8. Without a Word of Warning (Mack Gordon, Harry Revel) ~ 3:20
  9. You Are Mine (Ted Snyder, Sam Lewis, Joe Young) ~ 1:55
  10. If I Were a Bell” (Frank Loesser) ~ 3:27
  11. The Night We Called It a Day (Tom Adair, Matt Dennis) ~ 4:27
  12. I Remember Clifford (Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks) ~ 2:58
The Players
  • Carmen McRae ~ vocals
  • Fred Katz ~ arranger, conductor, cello
  • Ike Isaacs ~ double bass (except track 6)
  • Specs Wright ~ drums (exc. track 6)
Tracks 1, 7, 10
  • Harry Klee ~ flute solo
  • George W. Smith ~ clarinet
  • Justin Gordon, Mahlon Clark ~ bass clarinet
Tracks 2, 4, 9 and 12
  • Buddy Collette ~ flute, alto saxophone
  • George W. Smith ~ clarinet
  • Justin Gordon ~ bass clarinet
  • Warren Webb oboe
  • Joe Marino ~ piano
  • Joseph R. Gibbons ~ guitar
  • Thirteen unknown string players
Tracks 3, 5, 8 and 11
  • Joe Marino, John T. Williams ~ piano, celeste
  • Larry Bunker, Frank Flynn ~ vibraphone, marimba
Track 6
  • Pete Candoli, Ray Linn ~ trumpet
  • Vincent DeRosa ~ French horn
  • Bob Enevoldsen, Milt Bernhart ~ trombone
  • Tommy Johnson ~ tuba
  • Calvin Jackson ~ piano
  • Billy Bean ~ guitar
  • Red Mitchell ~ double bass
  • Larry Bunker ~ drums

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