Rating:
Genre:
Vocal Music
Release Date: 02/28/2006
The late pianist and vocalist
Shirley Horn appeared on
Marian McPartland's
NPR-syndicated
Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz Radio Broadcast in 1984, six years after she had begun recording and performing again after a lengthy hiatus. The material played here, as expected, is comprised of
standards with the exception of a four-handed
blues jam at the end of the program entitled
"Shirley's Blues." There are a few surprises -- in duet readings of
"Billie's Bounce," and
Billy Strayhorn's wonderful
"Blood Count," as well as a flawed middle section of
Don Redman's nugget
"Cherry." Horn is in fine voice here, just top-form, really, as in
"I Could Have Told You So," where her trademark
ballad whisper can just send chills down the spine. The conversation here is lively and fun-filled as well. There is great warmth and humor between
Horn and
McPartland. As is the usual format of these discs, conversation appears on every other track, and the music takes up the great majority of the program. Thank goodness for CD players and their ability to skip and program tracks quickly, as the musical end of the program makes for especially fine listening.
~Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
;)
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